GRAN IN AIRPORT PROSECCO RAMPAGE
WOMAN KICKED POLICEMAN AND BROKE HER ARM AFTER BEING TOLD SHE WAS TOO DRUNK TO FLY
A SCHOOLS admission officer went on a foul-mouthed rampage at Manchester Airport after being told she was too drunk to board a flight to Dubai for a dream 50th birthday treat.
Alison Yorston had been about to go on what she called ‘the holiday of a lifetime’ – but while waiting to catch her Emirates flight she shared a bottle of prosecco with her daughter, a court heard.
Cabin crew refused to let the drunken grandmother on the aircraft after she was last to board and was seen stumbling and tottering towards the departure gate in her high heels.
Later as the company director’s wife was waiting for her baggage to be taken off the holiday jet, police had to be called when she began pushing and prodding ground crew screaming: ‘They’ve ruined my holiday – I’m going to board that f***ing plane.’
As officers intervened Yorston began flailing her arms around wildly, said her brother-in-law was a police sergeant, then kicked one constable in the groin. During a struggle, she fell to the concrete floor in a drunken stupor causing her right arm to break in three places. Police bodycam audio footage taped Yorston as she ranted: ‘This was a special present for me. Why you f***ing breaking my arm? Don’t f***ing touch me.
‘Why are you breaking my arm? I will f***ing see him. What’s your number? It was not an accident, oh my god, there was no accident. The police officers broke my arm. I’m asking for your number because you broke my f***ing arm.’
At Manchester magistrates court, Yorston, from Sale, appeared in the dock with her arm in a sling. She wept as she was ordered to wear an electronic tag after she admitted common assault and a public order offence.
She was convicted of a third charge of assaulting a policeman following a trial.
She was sentenced to a sixmonth community order, must wear the tag under the terms of a 7pm-7am curfew and was also ordered to pay £735 court costs.
It is thought she is about to lose her job at a local high school.
The incident took place on June 1 last year after Yorston was about to go to Dubai with her daughter and grandson on the trip which was given to her as a 50th birthday present from family and friends.
Prosecutor Richard Stone said: “She said it was not her intention to hit the officer, she was just kicking out. She may not have known the intention but the act was reckless in doing so.’’
Yorston said: “My reason for stumbling was because I was wearing high-heeled shoes and I was unsteady while walking. I admit I was abusive towards staff and I prodded them but I was very upset and emotional as I couldn’t go on the holiday of a lifetime. It was a gift and contributions from family and friends. I felt let down and disappointed.
“Now I feel ashamed. It’s not in my character to be like that and I have apologised for my behaviour.”
She added: “I was annoyed when the police turned up. I didn’t want anything to do with them. There probably was a red mist and I probably wasn’t listening. I don’t agree that my own actions led to my misfortune, there was somebody else to blame for my injury.”