A US businessman who drunkenly abused crew members on a British Airways flight from Phoenix to London has been jailed for three months. Timothy Bradley, 32, a mortgage consultant from Arizona, pleaded guilty to common assault and being drunk on an aircraft at Isleworth Crown Court.
The incident occurred on 20 August on a Boeing 747 flight. Bradley had been drinking beers and bourbon cocktails with friends before boarding and continued drinking on board. He began chatting up female crew member Charlotte Howell, telling her 'I love you' after she served him champagne, though he denied calling her 'sexy'. When male crew member Stuart Williams replaced her and refused to serve more alcohol, Bradley swore at him.
Bradley also refused to turn down the music on his laptop and became aggressive towards head of cabin crew John Manson. The court heard that Manson feared being attacked when Bradley confronted him so closely that his spit landed on Manson's clothes. Bradley reportedly asked, 'Do you think I'm going to stab the pilot?' A written warning about his conduct was thrown away, and crew had restraints ready.
Sentencing Bradley, Judge Richard McGregor-Johnson said: 'You were thoroughly abusive, threatening, making foul remarks to a number of people and [Mr Manson] quite plainly thought that he was about to be attacked. This happened on an aircraft in a confined space and caused, I've no doubt, fear and distress to others who could not escape from you.'
The court was told Bradley was 'totally and utterly ashamed' of his behaviour, which was described as 'out of character'. He has been in custody for 32 days and will serve a further two months in jail.
