Drunk plane passenger spared jail

A drunken airline passenger from Cumbria who threatened to kick an air stewardess has been spared jail.

Derek Kirkwood downed 12 miniature bottles of brandy to cope with his fear of flying during the journey from Gran Canaria to Manchester in April.

The 58-year-old, of Askam in Furness, then verbally abused a passenger and a flight attended.

He admitted being drunk on an aircraft and was given a four-month sentence suspended for a year.

Your behaviour was loutish, rude and unpleasant Judge Andrew Lowcock

Appearing at Manchester Crown Court, the charity worker was also given a 12-month supervision order and 180 hours community work.

The hearing was told how Kirkwood took a tablet to combat his fear of flying and washed it down with alcohol during the four-hour flight.

He then threatened to kick a stewardess "up the bottom" because she would not take away one of his empty bottles.

He also said to another passenger: "You're a big man up here - let's see if you are a big man on the ground."

He was arrested on touch down at Manchester and told police: "I'm a nervous flyer but I wasn't drunk," the hearing heard.

David Abbott, defending, said Kirkwood was a "pillar of the community" who had done a lot of work for charity and was full of remorse for his actions.

Passing sentence Judge Andrew Lowcock said: "Your behaviour was loutish, rude and unpleasant.

"You made threats - you were abusive, pushing and prodding another passenger.

"What you did made the flight a very uncomfortable experience."

Kirkwood of, Dekland Saves Lane, was also ordered to pay £700 costs.