Cons taunt fake-death fugitive by singing Leaving on a Jet Plane

Sex offender makes bully claims in 3-hour court rant

- JAMES MULHOLLAND

FUGITIVE sex offender Nicholas Rossi claims he has been "bullied" by prisoners who sing the John Denver classic Leaving on a Jet Plane to him.

In a courtroom rant lasting nearly three hours, the 35-year-old asked Sheriff Norman McFadyen to release him on bail because he is being intimidated by fellow lags.

Rossi is currently on remand as US authorities are trying him to extradite him over sexual assault allegations.

He denies the claims and says he's a man called Arthur Knight.

But yesterday, he alleged he's become a bullying victim. He claimed inmates at Edinburgh's Saughton prison insist on singing Denver's 1969 hit at every opportunity.

Begging Sheriff McFadyen for bail, Rossi said: "I've been treated incredibly terribly. My wife is afraid to enter the prison.