Drunk man groped flight attendant on aeroplane
AN easyJet passenger from Cardiff sexually assaulted a flight attendant after downing half a bottle of duty-free vodka, a court has heard.
Robert Sheldon groped the woman during a flight from Turkey to Bristol in July last year.
Bristol Crown Court heard the 37-year-old became a “thorough, drunken nuisance” on the flight, where he tried to flirt with the flight attendant and placed his hands on her waist while refusing to put his seatbelt on.
He also tried to trip up her male colleague – making both flight attendants uncomfortable while trying to do their job.
As a result, Sheldon’s disruptive behaviour was reported to the aircraft’s pilot and police were called. Officers arrested the intoxicated passenger when the plane landed in Bristol, Bristol Live reports.
Andy Pickett, prosecuting, said the defendant had been complimentary to the female flight attendant, but as the four-hour 20-minute flight neared its destination, when the attendant asked him to fasten his seatbelt, he replied: “Only if you do it.”
It was heard Sheldon then stood up and leaned in pouting. It was heard the attendant managed to back away, but he blocked her way and grabbed her waist. Eventually a passenger fastened the defendant’s seatbelt when he refused to, and when a male flight attendant passed by Sheldon he stuck his foot out and tried to trip him up.
Sheldon, of Bryn Celyn, Pentwyn, Cardiff, pleaded guilty to assault, sexual assault of a female and being on an aircraft whilst drunk.
During the hearing, Chloe Griggs, defending, urged for her client to receive a suspended sentence and said he was “genuinely remorseful for his actions”.
She said: “If he could send a message of apology to everyone on that plane then he would. The pre-sentence report shows utmost remorse and regret. He knows he’s in an extremely serious position.”
Judge Michael Cullum handed Sheldon 18 weeks’ custody, suspended for 12 months. He was also ordered to attend six months’ alcohol treatment, up to 35 days’ rehabilitation and ordered to pay £650 to the victim of the sexual assault and £350 prosecution costs. easyJet has banned Sheldon from flying with them for five years.