Grandad hurled racist abuse at passengers during flight to city
A DRUNKEN grandfather became racially abusive on board a flight heading to Birmingham Airport, insulting disabled passengers and children.
Foul-mouthed Paul Adney first of all targeted a disabled woman waiting for her mobility scooter to be placed on board, ranting: “Just leave her here!”
He then spouted foul-mouthed racist abuse, yelling “Why the hell are we letting on all these f***ing P****s and b****s.”
During the flight from Turkey’s Antalya Airport, the 53-year-old constantly kicked the seat in front of him where a 13-year-old girl was sitting.
When her mother protested, Adney told her to shut up and said: “You know I will punch her.”
Adney, from Stratford Road, Shirley, pleaded guilty to being drunk on board an aircraft and to using threatening, abusive or insulting words or behaviour likely to cause harassment, alarm or distress with a racially aggravated factor.
The court heard how a number of passengers were re-seated during the May 25 flight to Birmingham and when some remonstrated, Adney told them: “I will take all of you on – I used to be a boxer.”
Helen Shipley, prosecuting, told the court : “His behaviour was very threatening during the flight and left many passengers including vulnerable disabled people and children feeling scared and upset.
“When the plane landed police arrested the defendant where he continued to be abusive and aggressive.
“He was taken to Solihull Police Station and when he was later questioned he said he was sorry for his actions. He said he was drunk and couldn’t remember what he had said.
“When he was told what he had said and done he said he was very embarrassed about how he had behaved.”
Mrs Bashir Kalsoom, defending, said Adney was “deeply ashamed of his actions”.
“He is a reforming alcoholic and was in rehabilitation a number of years ago,” she said. “He had been off the drink for quite some time and had given up alcohol because of this very reason.
“He can get abusive and aggressive when he has had a drink. He had a drink before the flight. He knows how stupid this was.
“He is a 53-year-old grandfather and he is deeply upset about the distress it has caused his children and grandchildren.”
Magistrates handed Adney a £120 fine and told him to pay court costs of £135 in relation to using threatening, abusive words and behaviour which was racially aggravated.
They deemed the charge of being drunk on board an aircraft as too serious and committed his case to Birmingham Crown Court for sentencing on September 20.