Football fan in a sweary airport rant
TOO DRUNK AND TOO LATE FOR FLIGHT
A FINANCIER hurled abuse at airport staff after he was told he was too drunk - and too late - to fly home to Belfast following a boozy visit to Manchester for a football match.
West Ham fan Stephen Brown travelled to see Manchester City take on the Londoners at the Etihad Stadium last December. The 42-year-old fatherof-two drank at least nine pints of beer over the course of the day.
After watching his team lose 2-1, he made his way to Manchester Airport, before being turned away when he was seen staggering up to a boarding gate as it was about to close.
As the Flybe jet took off for his native Belfast without him, Brown lost his temper and had to be held back by a friend as he launched into a foulmouthed rant at two airport officials manning the departure gate at terminal three. A senior airport employee was told: “This is your ******* fault. Get me the **** out of this airport.”
Manchester Magistrates’ Court heard Brown told another member of staff: “You fat **** . I’m going to rip your head off.” Police who arrested Brown were also sworn at. Brown apologised when he appeared before magistrates and admitting using threatening behaviour. He was fined £1,500. The court heard Brown arrived at gate 143 at around 8pm on December 8 in a drunken state, met by two members of staff. Prosecuting, Lynn Rodgers said the captain decided Brown could not fly. Once the flight had left, Brown hurled about at the airport workers. The flight turnaround manager told the court: “He was last to arrive for the flight and was clearly intoxicated. The doors were closed. He said he needed to get back to his children. “I consulted the captain and informed him of the situation, saying that he was not fit to fly and the decision was made to offload the passenger.” Brown told the hearing: “There was a problem with the checkin machine at the airport and there was a delay and I had assumed that at this time the plane would be boarding. “I just wanted to get home. I wanted to get out of the airport.” Defending Brown, Michael Lee said: “The whole incident was contained in one space and he shows genuine remorse and regrets his behaviour. He will live with this for a very long time.” Michael Lee