Jet flasher ‘revolting’
Drunk man urinated in plane
A man who pulled down his pants and urinated on the seats of a Jetstar plane at the Gold Coast airport has been slammed in court for his “hideous, despicable” antics.
Jason Paul Rangi was on-board a Melbourne-bound flight on December 18 when he started smoking an e-cigarette, ignoring cabin crew members who told him to stop.
Southport Magistrates Court was told the heavily intoxicated 52-yearold disregarded further instructions to remain seated, standing up and pulling down his pants – exposing his penis to staff and other passengers – before urinating on nearby vacant seats.
Rangi became aggressive towards flight staff when they tried to stop him, and later told police he had consumed several drinks – including two beers and shots of bourbon – that day.
Defence lawyer Joanna McNae said her client did not understand why flight staff would not let him use the bathroom due to his intoxicated state.
Ms McNae said Rangi struggled with alcohol abuse, having turned to drinking after becoming addicted to painkillers while recovering from a car crash several years earlier.
She told the court Rangi was currently homeless and unemployed, but had taken steps towards rehabilitation and breaking the “vicious cycle” he was caught in.
“He is someone who needs assistance and he certainly accepts that,” Ms McNae said.
Magistrate Pamela Dowse slammed Rangi’s “hideous” behaviour on the plane, saying she believed he should be going to jail but did not have the sentencing option available to her.
“My God, Mr Rangi, your behaviour is despicable – shameful in the extreme, disrespectful, inconsiderate and ugly,” Ms Dowse said.
“(It’s) revolting, really revolting – why should everyone else have to put up with that?”
Rangi pleaded guilty to seven offences including disorderly or offensive behaviour on an aircraft and smoking on an aircraft.
He was sentenced to jail month, wholly suspended months, and fined $1000. for one for six