‘The worst behaviour I’ve seen on a plane in 20 years’
DRUNK MUM PUNCHED FLIGHT ATTENDANT IN THE CROTCH AFTER A FOUL-MOUTHED TIRADE
A MOTHER punched a flight attendant in the crotch after drinking half a bottle of wine on the way to Manchester Airport – and two vodkas at the bar.
Helen Butcher left passengers in tears – and forced children to cover their ears – after launching into a foul-mouthed rant.
The 51-year-old has now been jailed for her ‘appalling’ behaviour during the TUI flight from Manchester to Kos in June last year.
Manchester Crown Court heard Butcher drank half a bottle of wine on the way to the airport and two vodkas in the bar before getting on the 3.50pm flight on June 27.
She and her daughter were being served drinks by a male flight attendant, with Butcher ordering a gin and tonic.
After he moved further down the carriage, Butcher, who was sitting in the same row as her daughter but separated by the aisle, punched the man in the private parts. The man said he was in ‘intense pain’ and told Butcher her behaviour was ‘wholly unacceptable,’ prosecutor Amanda Johnson said.
The court heard Butcher told the man: “It doesn’t matter, you are ******* gay anyway.”
Cabin crew were told not to serve any more alcohol to Butcher or her daughter. Butcher became increasingly loud and disruptive during the four-hour flight, Ms Johnson said. She repeatedly told staff to ‘ **** off’ and showed ‘no respect’ to anyone on the flight, the court heard. She was also given a written warning from the captain about her behaviour.
When the cabin manager went to speak to her, she ‘took hold of his face’ with her hands and said ‘I’m deaf and I can lip-read or just **** off.’ He later said that Butcher’s behaviour was the worst he had encountered in his 20-year career.
She continued to swear and scream incoherent abuse during the busy flight and stood up while the plane was in descent.
Police removed Butcher from the plane on arrival. Staff found she had a litre bottle of vodka in a bag, which she denied drinking from.
Defending, Raquel Simpson said Butcher accepted that her behaviour was ‘appalling’ and wanted to apologise to staff and passengers on the flight.
Ms Simpson said Butcher has a long-standing problem with alcohol, and has drank more in recent years as a way of coping with the death of her father.
Sentencing, Judge David Stockdale QC told Butcher: “Families who boarded that flight were put in distress. Children were seen to hold their hands over their ears so as not to hear your foul language. Nervous flyers were seen to be crying, such was their distress as a result of your behaviour.”
Butcher, of Leather Lane, Ulverston, Cumbria, pleaded guilty to two counts of assault, one count of being drunk on an aircraft and one count of using threatening words or behaviour. She was jailed for 21 weeks.