Thug jailed after aeroplane attack
Sep 29 2007 by Sam Wood, The Journal
AN aircraft passenger has been sentenced to 12 months in prison after he terrified passengers at 33,000ft and assaulted a member of the cabin crew.
Stephen Robinson, of Hope Town Lane, Darlington, was on board a Thomas Cook flight from Antalya in Turkey to Newcastle on March 21 last year when he lost his temper, clambered over a passenger and elbowed an air steward in the mouth.
The 53-year-old also tried to bite another passenger who was trying to restrain him. Eventually Robinson was restrained and handcuffed to a seat by cabin crew with the help of two passengers.
The aircraft had to be diverted to Frankfurt in Germany so Robinson could be removed.
The steward, Philip Miles, required £1,500 of dental work to repair his damaged teeth.
Robinson had pleaded guilty to the charges of endangering a plane and assault causing actual bodily harm.
He escaped being banned from flying altogether as the courts do not have powers to impose such a ban.
But he has been blacklisted by Thomas Cook and other airlines could follow suit.
Summing up yesterday at Newcastle Crown Court, Judge Recorder Brian Forster QC said: “You terrified the people who were about you and you made the life of the aircraft crew very difficult.
“Witnesses reported that one old lady in particular was shaking and had tears in her eyes.”
Earlier the court heard that Robinson had first caused trouble on the flight when he tried to buy drinks with a House of Fraser store card.
When this was refused he became abusive. Later he threw a plastic cup at the head of a steward. He then lit a cigarette, which he was told to put out.
Robinson then said he wanted to go for a walk, clambered over the person sat next to him, but was told to sit down.
He hurled abuse at the steward who again tried to get him to sit down and Robinson threatened to “punch his head in”.
Prosecutor Tim Parkin said: “At that point the defendant, in the words of one passenger, exploded, lashing out at the steward with his fist, hitting him in the face then elbowing him in the mouth.
“It took all the crew and two passengers to restrain him.
“This was a holiday flight so there were families on board and there were also some people who had never flown before, who found the whole experience utterly terrifying.”
The plane was diverted to Germany where Robinson was removed from the plane. He had no money so spent two days wandering around Frankfurt airport eating leftovers from canteen tables before he was able to get a flight home. He was then arrested by Northumbria Police.
Kristian Mills, for the defence, said that Robinson was on medication which could have made him confused and that he had never caused trouble on a flight before or since.
Mr Recorder Forster jailed Robinson for 12 months.
He said: “All people who travel on aeroplanes will be protected by the court. The court has a duty to protect people and ensure this type of behaviour is not carried out in the future.”
