A notorious criminal figure has been sent to prison for fighting on a crowded flight to Spain after another passenger swore at him.

Ian 'Blink' MacDonald, 54, was sentenced to two months in prison following the incident on a fully-booked Thomson Airways flight from Glasgow Airport to Fuerteventura in January.

He lost his temper after the jet, carrying 222 passengers, took off when he failed to store his luggage in an overhead locker while a safety demonstration took place.

MacDonald, who jailed for 16 years in the 1990s over a botched £6million bank heist, began arguing with a member of the cabin crew when she tried to help him.

Paisley Sheriff Court heard he then rrowed with fellow passenger William McHugh after McHugh, 55, branded him "a f****."

Fiscal depute David McDonald explained: "Lorraine Morrison, a stewardess with 27 years experience, was sitting at the galley at the rear of the aircraft.

"He became somewhat aggressive towards her and refused her offer of assistance"

The captain was informed of the dispute and returned to the stand, where Blink continued to hurl abuse at McHugh.

When cautioned and charged, Blink said: "I thought I would be in Fuerteventura, instead I'm in a cell in Greenock and I don't even have a sea view."

Blink, of Glasgow, admitted behaving in a threatening or abusive manner which was likely to cause a reasonable person to suffer fear or alarm by shouting, swearing and acting aggressively.

Claims that he had thrown papers and documents at Morrison were deleted from the charge as part of the plea deal.

McHugh, of Kirkintilloch, walked free from the same charge after his lawyer said he continued to deny his guilt.