An easyJet passenger who grabbed a flight attendant by the neck after drinking three-quarters of a bottle of whisky has appeared in court.
A female flight attendant warned 51-year-old Colin Smith to be careful on board the flight to Malta, as he was stood when the seatbelt signs were switched on.
The court heard that he gave the flight attendant a “vacant” stare before grabbing her by the neck with both hands. The woman managed to get away from Smith, before he tried to hit her again.
Smith said he bought two bottles of Famous Grouse whisky in duty-free and had sunk three-quarters of one bottle during the journey, describing himself as being “nine out of 10 drunk”.
Smith, from Anlaby Park, Hull, was said to have six previous convictions for nine offences, and was most recently before the courts in May 2018 for an offence of battery.
He was jailed for six months yesterday at Minshull Street Crown Court after admitting assault and being drunk on an aircraft at an earlier hearing.
In a victim personal statement read to the court, the woman said she was scared of further assaults in the future.
