Man jailed after death threat over stolen gammon

Gary McKinnon told a hotel porter he would kill him over the row.

Man jailed after death threat over stolen gammon SNS Group

A hotel guest threatened to kill a porter who he believed had stolen the last slice of cold meat from his room.

Gary McKinnon, 41, was raging when the gammon went missing and blamed porter Calum Dorchester.

McKinnon confronted Mr Dorchester at Glasgow city centre’s The Willow Hotel on April 8, 2020, about the missing food.

McKinnon told the porter: “Do you think I’m f***ing stupid and lying?

“I want to kill you, I don’t care about the police, I will get you outside.”

McKinnon pled guilty at Glasgow Sheriff Court to two charges of behaving in a threatening or abusive manner and was jailed for six months.

He also admitted assaulting, obstructing or hindering a nurse from an earlier unrelated incident.

The court heard McKinnon attended the reception of the hotel in an irate manner.

Prosecutor Tanjeel Maleque said: “He was concerned about his last portion of gammon in his room.

“He questioned the witness about the location of this gammon and became immediately hostile.”

Mr Dorchester tried to get more information from McKinnon before he made the aggressive comments.

McKinnon then waved his cigarette lighter in an aggressive manner and stated he would be waiting outside for him at the end of his shift.

A 999 call was made and McKinnon was arrested when he stated: “I had the right to do that, as he didn’t protect my property.”

The court was earlier told that McKinnon lashed out at nurse David Letham at Gartnavel Hospital on December 27, 2019.

McKinnon, who was a patient, made threats of violence and attempted to punch Mr Letham and a colleague.

Mr Maleque added: “He was restrained to the ground and during this the accused managed to throw two punches at Mr Letham striking him on the face.”

Lawyer Kevin Corr, defending, told the court McKinnon apologised for his behaviour.

It was also revealed McKinnon has a previous conviction for a similar offence with a knife involving a receptionist and stolen property.

McKinnon was sentenced to six months behind bars for the offences.

Sheriff Daniel Kelly said: “For these matters, custody is the only disposal.”

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