31 October 2023 , 18:57
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A drunk dad-of-three has been jailed after he hurled abuse at an air stewardess and threatened to punch her in a row about alcohol.
The court heard that Mohammed Riaz, who has 19 previous convictions, became verbally abusive after being refused more drink, reducing the air stewardess to tears. She was still crying due to Riaz's behaviour when police boarded the flight from Marrakech in Morocco to Liverpool John Lennon Airport on July 15, 2019.
Riaz, 42, also used foul language and threatening behaviour around families and children after he was led off a flight by police 18 months later in a separate incident at Manchester Airport, telling a Border Force officer: "I will punch your f****** head in."
The air stewardess was still crying when police boarded the flight from Marrakech to Liverpool John Lennon Airport in July 2019 (Colin Lane/Liverpool Echo)Mark Pritchard, prosecuting the case, said of the 2019 incident: "The defendant was deemed to be intoxicated by a member of cabin crew who refused to serve him any more alcohol. In response the defendant became verbally abusive." The court heard he shouted 'who f***** your mother you fat stewardess white b****' at her, reports Manchester Evening News.
Mr Pritchard said: "Due to his behaviour, the captain requested police attendance at the airport. The complainant opened the door of the aircraft and was met by police. She was still crying due to his behaviour. The officers described the defendant as being unsteady on his feet, having glazed eyes, slurring his words and smelling of alcohol. Because of this he was arrested."
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The court heard his 'extremely erratic' behaviour continued, and he was handcuffed. He continued to shout abuse aimed at the stewardess at the plane as he was led away. While being taken to custody in a vehicle, Riaz bit a police constable's forearm, 'leaving teeth marks but not breaking the skin', a judge was told.
In the second incident, on January 2, 2021, Riaz was travelling on a flight from Istanbul in Turkey to Manchester Airport. Mr Pritchard said Riaz had been "singing and dancing, refusing to wear a face covering, punching people's seats and shadow boxing in the aircraft aisles" during the flight. "There were around 120 passengers on the aircraft, most of whom were families with children", he added.
The aircraft was met by police at the gate and the court heard a number of families approached an officer to complain about Riaz's behaviour. He was handcuffed and taken through Border Control. The court heard it was there that Riaz, from Highfield Chase in Dewsbury, West Yorkshire, abused the Border Force officer, saying 'you f****** b****, did you not get your leg up last night?'
He then threatened her, saying he would 'punch her f****** head in', and shouted other vile abuse at her while making comments about raping 'white women', Mr Pritchard said. "He was so disruptive at the police station he could not be booked in and was taken directly to a cell," added the prosecutor. Riaz, who the court heard works for a valeting business, was convicted in his absence on May 7, 2021, at Liverpool Magistrates' Court of being drunk on an aircraft and assaulting an emergency worker.
He went on to plead guilty at Manchester Magistrates' Court, in September, to three counts of using threatening, abusive or insulting words or behaviour with intent to cause fear of or provoke unlawful violence. Judge Joanne Woodward jailed him for a total of 14 months. Riaz will serve half that in custody, with the rest on licence. She said his offending involved 'highly abusive behaviour' that caused great distress to the air stewardess and other witnesses. "The level of verbal abuse in the presence of families and young children was at the highest end," Judge Woodward said.
Riaz appeared at the sentencing hearing over a video link and sat with his head in his hands as the facts of the case were opened. Ella Embleton, defending Riaz, said his 'underlying problem' was alcohol. She said: "It is recognised by Mr Riaz himself that there is no excuse for his behaviour. He is extremely embarrassed by his actions on those days. He describes himself as getting carried away while in drink."
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