Drunk easyJet passenger jailed after grabbing stewardess by neck on flight

1194     0
Colin Smith outside Manchesters Minshull Street Court (Image: MEN MEDIA)
Colin Smith outside Manchesters Minshull Street Court (Image: MEN MEDIA)

An Easyjet passenger who grabbed a stewardess by the neck after swigging "three quarters of a bottle of whiskey" has been jailed.

Colin Smith, 51, was flying from Manchester to Malta with his partner when a member of the cabin crew spotted him standing up with the seatbelt sign still on.

The stewardess warned him to sit back down but was met with a ‘vacant stare’ before Smith grabbed her by the neck, Minshull Street Crown Court heard.

He tried to lash out again but in an effort to protect herself the Easyjet worker pushed him back and Smith fell into the laps of two seated passengers before he was restrained.

The stewardess asked his partner if he had any health concerns, to which she replied: “I told him not to drink that whisky”.

Man in 30s dies after being stabbed in park sparking police probe qhiddxiqxridqxinvMan in 30s dies after being stabbed in park sparking police probe
Drunk easyJet passenger jailed after grabbing stewardess by neck on flightSmith had attacked a flight attendant on an easyJet flight (AFP via Getty Images)

The incident unfolded before shocked passengers on March 28 last year, Manchester Evening News reports.

Smith was arrested in the UK when he returned from his holidays a week later on a Jet2 flight.

He admitted he had bought two bottles of Famous Grouse whisky in duty free, and sunk three quarters of one bottle during the journey, describing himself as being ‘nine out of 10 drunk’.

In a victim personal statement read to the court, the stewardess described feeling upset and anxious.

Drunk easyJet passenger jailed after grabbing stewardess by neck on flightSmith was jailed for six months (MEN Media)

She added that she was scared of further assaults in the future.

The court heard that Smith has six previous convictions for nine offences, and was most recently before the courts in May 2018 for an offence of battery.

Defending, Colette Renton said her client’s recollection of the incident was ‘fragmented’ due to his intoxication.

She said his fear of flying contributed to his drinking, and said he was going on a prearranged holiday for his 50th birthday which was a ‘relief’ for him and his partner following recent family bereavements.

“He expresses his remorse and states that he wishes to apologise to the victim for the impact that his behaviour has had upon her,” Ms Renton said.

Smith, of Woodland End, Hull, East Yorkshire, had pleaded guilty to assault and being drunk on an aircraft at an earlier hearing.

Russian model killed after calling Putin a 'psychopath' was strangled by her exRussian model killed after calling Putin a 'psychopath' was strangled by her ex

On Monday Judge Tina Landale sentenced him to six months imprisonment.

Hollie Bone

EasyJet, Crime, Prison sentence, Crown court, Court case

Read more similar news:

01.02.2023, 12:25 • Crime
'UK's most neglected street with post-apocalyptic scenes like The Last of Us'
01.02.2023, 12:27 • Investigation
Chilling warning text sent by ex boyfriend minutes before murdering former lover
01.02.2023, 15:05 • Crime
Brit has fingertip bitten off by Russian woman in beach beanbag argument
01.02.2023, 16:04 • Crime
Adam Azim makes emotional plea against rising knife crime as campaign plan set
01.02.2023, 16:46 • Crime
Andrew Tate loses latest appeal against detention in human-trafficking case
01.02.2023, 16:58 • Crime
Possession of heroin and cocaine no longer a crime in province in radical move
01.02.2023, 17:14 • Crime
Man sues police when he loses his job after cops include him in fugitive list
01.02.2023, 17:29 • Crime
Brit imprisoned in Morocco after unknowingly buying drink with counterfeit money
01.02.2023, 18:00 • Crime
Drunk easyJet passenger groped female flight attendant and tried to trip another
01.02.2023, 18:03 • Crime
NFL player accused of rape and kidnapping days before Super Bowl