A nightmare passenger has been jailed after he downed three bottles of Bulmers cider and assaulted a member of staff for telling him he was too drunk to a board a flight.
Glenn Bailey, from Leeds, was boarding 6.20pm RyanAir flight from Leeds Bradford Airport to Girona in Spain on July 13 this year when he ended up in a confrontation with a member of staff.
Leeds Crown Court heard on Wednesday that the 55-year-old became violent and attempted to grab the man by the throat after he suggested he was "perhaps drunk" — but only got hold of his collar instead.
Prosecutor Marc Luxford said he then managed to get past the man and sat down in his seat, 23F, before a police officer got on board and attempted to take him off the plane.
Mr Luxford told the court: "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."
Afterwards, 55-year-old Bailey was taken to the tarmac outside the plane 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.
In the interview he denied assaulting the PC, but did admit to an assault an aircraft staff member, Mr Luxford said.
He also told police that he had consumed 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 recounted Bailey's four previous convictions, including restricting or obstructing a police officer in their duty.
Jailing him for two months, he 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."
