Drunk assaulted passenger, 70, on BA flight

A BRITISH Airways gold member tried drunkenly to kiss a fellow passenger almost twice his age on a flight home from South Africa.

Andrew Few, 39, who has achieved Gold air miles status with BA, drank several mini-bottles of wine during the 11-hour flight.

He pleaded guilty yesterday to assaulting the 70-year-old woman, who had been visiting her son in the UK, and being drunk on board the BA A380 aircraft on August 19, last year. A charge of sexually assaulting the woman, who had been due to give video link evidence from South Africa, was dropped on the day of trial along with a common assault count against another woman.

Few, a medical equipment salesman from Harlow, Essex, was sentenced to six months’ imprisonment, suspended for two years. He must complete 120 hours of community service work.

He was fined £4,000 and ordered to pay £3,200 in court costs and £800 compensation to the victim.

“She describes the incident as horrible and was teary afterwards,” Prosecutor Mark Kimsey told Isleworth Crown Court. “She was revolted.”

The judge told Few that he was fortunate not to have been sent to prison.

“You assaulted a 70-year-old lady entitled to travel in peace, without being bothered by your drunken, bizarre behaviour.”