Blue star Lee Ryan has been handed a 12-month suspended jail sentence for racially aggravated widespread assault by beating and behaving in an abusive approach in the direction of a cabin crew member.
The 40-year-old singer was “slurring his words and staggering around” after consuming a complete bottle of port earlier than a British Airways flight from Glasgow to London City Airport on 31 July final 12 months, Isleworth Crown Court heard.
He had earlier pleaded responsible to being drunk on an plane, for which he was handed a four-month suspended jail time period to run concurrently.
After being refused extra alcohol on the airplane and instructed to return to his seat, Ryan made feedback about flight attendant Leah Gordon’s appears to be like and referred to as her a “chocolate cookie” earlier than grabbing her wrists.
Judge Nicholas Wood ordered Ryan to pay £2,500 compensation to Ms Gordon, £750 to a different member of the cabin crew, Jade Smith, and £510 in prices.
Having seen psychological assessments of Ryan, and heard he has high-functioning autistic spectrum dysfunction, he concluded he didn’t pose an ongoing threat to the general public.
At a earlier court docket listening to, Ms Gordon mentioned: “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 added: “It felt like he was saying I was beautiful for a black person because of the way he was describing my colour.”
Ms Gordon mentioned Ryan later approached her from behind and mentioned: “Before I get off this plane I need a kiss from you.”
She instructed him to “stay away” and he grabbed each of her wrists earlier than passengers intervened.
Ryan mentioned he had no reminiscence of the incident.
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At the identical listening to, Ms Smith mentioned Ryan requested to be upgraded from financial system to enterprise class however was refused because the airplane was full.
She mentioned “he was angry” and she or he lower him off from ordering alcohol when she seen he was “slurring his words and staggering around”.
On 12 July this 12 months Ryan had a cost in opposition to him dropped over a declare he assaulted a police officer after he efficiently withdrew a responsible plea following what he claimed was “poor advice from his solicitor”.
Source: information.sky.com”