Don’t Miss a Court Date to come to Thailand!

Make sure you don’t miss any court cases if you have a holiday already booked. Stewart Appleby missed a court appearance to travel to Thailand for his friend’s wedding, then was handcuffed and hauled off his plane by police when he flew back to the UK.
Caged in a jail van and driven from Heathrow Airport to appear before a Sheriff in Greenock he was arrested for smashing a window and not showing up for his court hearing. Tough Sheriff John Herald had issued a warrant for Appleby’s arrest after he failed to appear at his court on December 9.
The 33-year-old instead jetted off for the sunny holiday in Thailand where he was best man at his friend’s marriage. He told how he’d been to “hell and back” over the case, after Met police officers intercepted him as his plane touched down in London.
Appleby said: “The whole thing has been a nightmare. I couldn’t believe there was a warrant for my arrest when I was at the wedding – a trip I booked before any proceedings were brought against me. “I thought there would be no problem getting my appearance put off for a couple of weeks until I got back. ”The embarrassment of four police coming on to a plane and handcuffing me is something I won’t forget in a hurry.”
Appleby was fined 250 pounds at Greenock Sheriff Court after pleading guilty to breaking a table and a window at a house in July. In court, his lawyer Gerry Keenan described his client’s trip as a “holiday from hell”. Mr Keenan added: “He had expected the case to be adjourned in his absence and I personally submitted itinerary and details of his trip well in advance of his court appearance.”