EasyJet Passenger Sentenced for Attempted Rape on UK-Bound Flight
A man has been jailed for attempting to rape a woman on board an EasyJet flight travelling from Italy to the United Kingdom. Nicola Cristiano, a 45-year-old Italian national, carried out the assault during a late evening flight from Naples to Edinburgh on May 13, 2025.
Details of the Assault and Trial
Cristiano, a father-of-two who was on a work trip, repeatedly grabbed the woman by the hand and neck in an effort to force her to touch his exposed crotch. His semen was later found on her cheek and lip. He also attempted to kiss the victim and touch her breast and body during the flight.
Following a trial at the High Court in Edinburgh last month, Cristiano was found guilty of attempting to rape the woman. The Daily Record reported on the proceedings, which concluded with his sentencing on Friday.
Judge's Remarks and Sentencing
Sentencing him at the same court, judge Alison Stirling referred to a victim impact statement submitted to the court. She told Cristiano: "The complainer says the assault has left a lasting effect on her sense of safety and control. She doesn't feel comfortable flying and travelling alone any more. She had planned another holiday this year but she doesn't want to go on it any more."
The judge added: "The fact that it happened in a public setting surrounded by other people, even though she felt completely alone at the time, has been especially damaging for her. She thinks this will always have a lasting effect on her."
Judge Stirling noted from a criminal justice social work report that Cristiano had not accepted the guilty verdict. She stated: "Custody is the only appropriate sentence with regard to the serious nature of the offending. The reasons for the sentence include punishment, expressing society's concerns about and disapproval of your offending, protection of the public, and rehabilitation in custody."
She also informed him that he would be deported to Italy once he had completed his sentence and would be subject to notification requirements for an indefinite period of time.
Court Proceedings and Defence
Cristiano, who appeared in court dressed in a black and gold bomber jacket and blue jeans, followed proceedings through an Italian interpreter. He showed no reaction as the sentence was handed down.
Earlier, his lawyer Jim Stephenson told the court that his client had accepted the complainer "did say 'no' on a number of occasions, and (that) he did take her hand and place it on his penis." However, he went on: "However Mr Cristiano still maintains his innocence in relation to the most serious parts of the charge."
The case underscores the severe consequences of such offences, particularly in confined public spaces like aircraft, and highlights the ongoing impact on victims of sexual assault.
