12 January 2023 , 18:35
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The British Airways flight attendant who Blue singer Lee Ryan harassed has been pictured.
Ryan, 39, was today found guilty of the racially aggravated assault of female cabin crew member Leah Gordon while drunk on a flight from Glasgow to London City last year.
During an appearance at Ealing Magistrates', the court heard that the pop star, 39, told a black flight attendant "I want your chocolate children" while on board the flight on July 31 2022.
The singer subjected Ms Gordon to comments about her appearance, calling her a 'chocolate cookie' before grabbing her wrists after being refused more alcohol during the plane journey.
Ms Gordon told Ealing Magistrates' Court how Ryan initially called her 'beautiful' and put his sunglasses on her face.
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Leah Gordon told the court how Lee Ryan's comments 'embarrassed' her (Nicholas Razzell)
The singer was pictured looking at his phone ahead of the trial (PA)The flight attendant said: "He was making comments about my complexion, 'you're my chocolate darling, my chocolate cookie, and I'm going to have your chocolate children'."
She continued to tell the court: "It felt like he was saying I was beautiful for a black person because of the way he was describing my colour."
Ms Gordon continued to recall Ryan approaching her from behind, saying: "Before I get off this plane I need a kiss from you."
After telling him to "stay away", she said he grabbed both her wrists before passengers intervened.
Ryan arriving in court today (PA)
The singer denied his comments were racist (PA)She said: "He was towering over me, like he was leaning in to give me a kiss."
Ms Gordon went on to recall feeling 'embarrassed' and branded the singer's comments about the colour of her skin 'unacceptable and so derogatory', whether Ryan meant them intentionally or not.
Ryan - who married Verity Paris in March last year - was said to have been "slurring his words and staggering around" after drinking a whole bottle of port before boarding the flight.
He was accused of being drunk on an aircraft, assaulting a police officer, racially aggravated common assault by beating and behaving in an abusive way towards the cabin crew member.
'My band member is black,' Ryan told the court (Dave J Hogan/Getty Images)A tearful Ryan told the court his belief his actions were merely 'playful' and denied the use of the word chocolate was racist.
The All Rise singer told police officers in an interview, read to the court: "I wish I could ring her up and apologise and offer her some Blue tickets for the next tour."
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Ryan appeared in the dock and told the court of "annoying" a passenger next to him by asking what book he was reading, with no recollection of what occurred after that.
The pop star went on: "I'm sorry.
"My band member is black [Simon Webbe], I'm not racist, I've had black girlfriends, mixed-race girlfriends.
"It was banter, just drunk banter I suppose, there was no malice or intention to upset anyone."
He added: "I didn't mean to cause any distress to anyone or be racist, it was just a poor choice of words I suppose."
Ryan's band have yet to issue a statement following their bandmate's guilty conviction.