A Leeds man sunk three bottles of Bulmers cider, assaulted a member of staff at Leeds Bradford Airport and kicked out at a police officer when he tried to remove him from a flight to Spain.
Glenn Bailey was boarding the 6.20pm RyanAir flight to Girona in Spain on July 13 this year, when he was stopped by a member of Leeds Bradford Airport staff who told him he was too drunk to fly. Bailey, Leeds Crown Court heard on Wednesday, then turned violent and attempted to grab the man by the throat - but got hold of his collar instead.
Prosecutor Marc Luxford told the court the staff member had been told about Bailey and that he was "perhaps drunk" and as a result confronted him and was presented with "glazed eyes." The man, the court was told, could also smell alcohol on Bailey, of Whingate Green in Leeds.
Mr Luxford said: "He told him he was too drunk to board and he said he had paid £600 so would be going and added he would be violent and attempted to grab him by his throat and grabbed his collar."
Bailey managed to get past the man and sat in his seat, 23F, before a police officer got on board and attempted to take him off the plane. Mr Luxford said: "The PC went to arrest him and the defendant told him he wouldn't comply and leave the aircraft. He became verbally abusive, telling him to 'f*** off.' Officers removed him and went into the apron area."
55-year-old Bailey was taken to the tarmac outside the plane - just 20 metres from the aircraft's engine - and continued to attempt to break free and hit out at officers, kicking one of them to his back. He was eventually taken to Elland Road police station. The court heard he cried on the way there and admitted his offences in interview.
Mr Luxford said: "In interview he denied assaulting the PC but admitted he did attempt to assault an aircraft staff member. By the end of the interview he said he had drunk three pint bottles of Bulmers cider and that he was a recovering alcoholic with a fear of flying."
Mitigating, Michael Walsh said it seemed the combination of alcohol and the misuse of his medication led to the state Bailey was in at the time. He said: "It's no excuse. He tells me after it he calmed down and he spent the journey to the police station crying and saying he was sorry for his actions. It is no excuse for the situation he found himself and he was the author of his misfortune as he was the person who consumed the alcohol."
The court heard Bailey had not had an alcoholic drink since he committed the offences and has sought assistance to refrain from drinking alcohol in the future. He had pleaded guilty to assault by beating, entering an aircraft while being drunk and assaulting an emergency worker at the magistrates' court.
His Honour Judge Robin Mairs said Bailey had four previous convictions including restricting or obstructing a police officer in their duty. He jailed him for two months and told him: "This is behaviour the Court of Appeal has said must be met with punishment and deterrent sentences. It must have been distressing and disturbing for others on board, especially children.
"You were persistent in your behaviour, you carried on your obstruction and violence on a police officer, even on the tarmac. It would have been much, much worse if the aircraft was in the air."
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