A WEALTHY property developer has been fined after he launched a foul-mouthed tirade at "petrified" airport staff who told him his hand luggage was too heavy.

Neil Grinnall, of Panorama Road, Sandbanks, was catching a flight from Bournemouth to Spain when he "lost his temper" at check-in staff.

The businessman was told to remove items from his hand luggage as his bag did not comply with weight restrictions. Upon hearing the news Grinnall, 56, hurled a volley of abuse at two female members of staff, which lead to him being refused entry to his plane.

Both Catia Figueira and Michelle Gillingham say they were left distressed by the verbal attack, in which Grinnall called both of them "f****** fat b******".

He was also heard yelling "This is f****** ridiculous" and telling workers he wouldn't fly from the airport again.

Appearing at Poole Magistrates' Court on Thursday, Grinnall accepted he had used threatening or abusive words towards the women. He was handed a £2,500 fine and ordered to pay £200 compensation to each of his victims. Magistrates also instructed him to pay £310 in court costs and a further £170 victim surcharge.

The court heard that Grinnall later told police he was "a rich man" and that he had "expected more courtesy".

He also offered to pay the women compensation to avoid the case going to court.

Kingsleigh Viollet, prosecuting said: "He has been told his hand luggage is overweight and has lost his temper and started shouting.

"He shouted things like 'This is f****** ridiculous' and called both of them ''F****** fat b******'.

"These women were just doing their job and they were understandably petrified."

He added: "In his interview with the police, Mr Grinnall basically said 'I am a rich man' and believed that by paying more for his seat he deserved more courtesy."

The incident occurred in May last year and Grinnall was arrested at the airport.

He posted a picture of himself in Marbella just four days later. Grinnall has also posted photos from Cannes, Monaco and Miami so far this year.

Thomas Evans, mitigating, argued that Grinnall felt "genuine remorse" for the incident and had offered to give the women a "face-to-face apology". He added that he had flown in from a separate holiday in Spain specifically for the hearing.

Mr Evans said: "The officer in the case said he did show remorse and would like the chance to apologise for his actions."

Grinnall was filmed launching a stool across a bar while out drinking with TV star Celia Sawyer in 2017.

He was arrested following the incident, which took place at Rick Stein's luxury Sandbanks restaurant, and later given a police caution.