A drunken plane passenger who left families in fear after shouting racist abuse and making a Nazi salute has been jailed. David Kelly, 56, was on a Jet2 flight from Turkey to Newcastle on December 19 last year when he became drunk and offensive.
Racially aggravated harassment
Newcastle Crown Court heard he committed racially aggravated harassment to airline staff and members of the public and also made a homophobic remark. Saba Shan, prosecuting, said: "When he initially boarded the plane and, it would seem, in the first couple of hours, he was enjoying himself. He was loud and boisterous with lots of laughter."
"Regrettably as he became visibly more intoxicated, his behaviour deteriorated. There are statements from staff and passengers which describe how the defendant became angry and animated and started ranting."
Offensive behaviour
Among the offensive behaviour, Kelly said "Hitler knew" followed by making a Nazi salute. He also pointed at a Turkish passenger and called him a terrorist and made other racist and one homophobic remark. Miss Shan said: "A young family were distressed by his actions and were moved from the row behind him." Members of staff did their best to manage his behaviour by offering alternative seating to passengers alarmed by his behaviour.
Kelly, of Bek Road, Newton Hall, County Durham, stood in his seat and initially refused to sit down and put his seatbelt on as the plane began its descent to land. Staff had alerted police, who were waiting to arrest him at Newcastle Airport.
Sentencing
Kelly, who has four previous convictions, including for arson and drugs offences, pleaded guilty to being drunk on an aircraft and a racially aggravated public order offence. Jailing him for ten months, Recorder David Gordon said: "Those who become drunk and disorderly on board an aircraft must ordinarily expect an immediate custodial sentence because of the fear and distress caused to passengers and crew and because of the potential implications with regard to safety."
"You repeatedly shouted abuse, including racist and, on one occasion, homophobic abuse and made threats of violence and ignored efforts by cabin crew to calm the situation. The offences occurred in the uniquely confined environment of an aircraft in flight. Passengers and crew could not remove themselves from it. Families and other passengers were alarmed and distressed."
Brian Hegarty, defending, said he is remorseful and said the incident started after Kelly argued with another passenger about politics. He added that Kelly did not need to be restrained and did not assault anyone and said: "His behaviour was reprehensible and unpleasant but was restricted to words alone." The court was provided with character references about Kelly, including from a magistrate and a former Metropolitan Police officer. He was said to be hard-working, helpful and community minded.
