Drunk Ryanair passenger fined after being aggressive towards crew

Drunk Ryanair passenger who downed half a bottle of brandy to ‘calm his nerves’ on flight to Birmingham is fined after smashing a glass and being aggressive towards cabin crew

• Stephen Stokes, 58, from Solihull was returning from a holiday in Portugal 
• He pleaded guilty to being drunk on an aircraft at Birmingham Magistrates’ Court 
• Stokes was charged a £400 fine, £185 in costs and £160 victim surcharge

A drunk Ryanair passenger was fined after he was ‘verbally aggressive’ towards cabin crew and forced the captain to consider diverting the flight. 

Stephen Stokes, 58, was returning from a holiday in Portugal and claimed he drank half a bottle of brandy to calm his nerves after losing his medication.

He pleaded guilty to being drunk on an aircraft at Birmingham Magistrates’ Court yesterday. 

He was hit with a £745 bill made up of a £400 fine, £185 costs and £160 victim surcharge.

Stokes, of Winchester Drive, Marston Green, Solihull, West Midlands, boarded the plane in Faro, Portugal on January 16 this year. 

Stephen Stokes, 58, was returning from a holiday in Portugal and claimed he drank half a bottle of brandy to calm his nerves after losing his medication

Stokes pleaded guilty to being drunk on an aircraft at Birmingham Magistrates’ Court yesterday and was hit with a £745 bill 

Ekene Pruce, prosecuting, said: ‘He was observed to have consumed a half a bottle of brandy, which was 500ml, and he had become verbally aggressive towards the crew and was repeatedly told by the air crew not to be loud and aggressive. He also smashed a glass.

‘The captain considered diverting the flight however reconsidered and landed at the destination. Officers came aboard and removed the defendant in an intoxicated state.’

Phillip Haycock, mitigating, explained that Stokes lost his mental health medication prior to leaving, but thought he would be able to board the plane because it was a short flight.

Mr Haycock said: ‘He bought alcohol, not for himself as he doesn’t ordinarily drink. He’s a solitary individual and keeps himself to himself. He bought it as a present for his mother.

‘However when at the airport just as he was about to board he became quite ill and took a few sips of the brandy. He thought it would calm his nerves however that didn’t do the trick.

‘Regrettably he must have been drinking from it whilst on the flight. He has very, very little recollection of the incident on the plane. He remembers breaking the glass. It slipped from his hand. It wasn’t a case of him throwing it.’

Stokes was ‘verbally aggressive towards the crew and was repeatedly told by the air crew not to be loud and aggressive’

Mr Haycock added: ‘He has apologised unreservedly to the company and I suppose he’s been banned from future flights. I don’t think he will be travelling on airlines in the future because of his difficulties.

‘He is ashamed of his behaviour. He has tried to keep it to himself. He doesn’t want to bring this to the attention of his family.’

After deliberating for several minutes the magistrates ruled to impose a fine, despite warning Stokes that similar cases have warranted jail sentences.

The chair of the bench said: ‘This offence was of a serious nature. It was in a confined space, you were aggressive and we are sure other passengers would have been concerned.

‘The cabin crew were also concerned about your behaviour and to the extent they had to contact the captain to see if the flight needed to be diverted. On an aircraft you have got to consider the safety of every passenger.’

Source: Read Full Article