Scots ‘drugs smuggler’ arrested in Colombia is notorious thug who firebombed police station
A SCOT held in Colombia on a drug smuggling rap is a notorious thug who once firebombed a police station, we can reveal.
Ricky Courage, 32, has been in and out of the nick since he was a teenager for a series of terrifying incidents and vicious attacks on innocent victims.
He was also caught up in prison riots at a newly opened nick.
Courage was released two years ago and appeared to have managed to stay out of trouble with the authorities.
But he was lifted in South America last month and accused of attempting to fly out of Cartagena with 2 kilos of coke in his luggage.
Prosecutors claim he was trying to return to Scotland with the drugs before sniffer dogs picked up the scent.
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At the family home in the Dyce area of Aberdeen his sister Amanda, 29, revealed he’s not been in touch since the sting.
When asked if she was shocked, she said: “Yeah, of course.”
A local said: “Ricky is pretty well known around here and is just trouble.
“But even for him this is extreme, next level stuff. No one can quite believe it.
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“He’s probably in a fair bit of shock himself as he’s sitting in that jail cell in Colombia. I’d imagine nothing can prepare you for that.”
In 2016 Courage set fire to Dyce police station by ramming a rag into the neck of a beer bottle that was filled with petrol.
He was spotted jumping onto the roof of the building, which was attached to a primary school, before smoke started billowing.
No major damage was done but pupils were ordered to stay at home after the early morning incident.
Courage fled the scene but cops traced him to a house and found him hiding in a wardrobe. While his DNA was found on the petrol bomb.
Months later he was caught walking through the centre of Aberdeen carrying a meat cleaver.
A beak locked him up for 28 months when he was already inside for his role in riots at HMP Grampian nick in 2014.
Courage’s life of crime stretches back to 2009 when he attacked a community warden at the local Asda with two pals, aged just 16.
He walked with a year’s probation but then launched a brutal attack on David Stark.
Courage broke his neighbour’s leg in three places in a horrific assault because he tried to tell the teen’s parents about his bad behaviour.
A beak said Courage had made “life a misery” for his victims and intimidated them for months.
The court was told the traumatised family had sold up in a bid to get away from him.
Courage was given three years at a young offender’s nick because he was just 17.
While in there got extra time for breaking into the local school before he was sent away.
In 2020 while locked up his sentence was extended because he attacked a fellow inmate with a pal.
In an old post on social media in 2012, Courage said: “Regret sh** I do so f*****g much eh. Aye, to my family.”
And in another that year he spoke about how he walked from court. He said: “So lucky to get out today. The judge had me flapping. Was looking at a big one.”
In 2022 he turned 30 behind bars but was set to get out six weeks later.
At the time, Amanda said: “Happy 30th birthday to my big bro and bestest friend. All those years of putting up with your cr*p. How do I cope?
“Hope you have a good celebration with the lads and I’ll make it an extra special celebration once you’re home.”
We told how Courage was lifted at Rafael Nunez International Airport on September 29.
He’s been remanded in the notorious San Sebastian Ternera Prison in Cartagena on the orders of a judge while he’s investigated.
In a statement Colombia’s Public Prosecution Service said:“Among the foreigner's personal belongings, six packages covered with black plastic were found.
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“He did not accept his responsibility for the crime he was accused of.”
A photo of Courage was released by prosecutors. It’s unclear how long he will be held before a trial date is set.