b.borg
24th May 2005, 10:00
At last - one for good guys :ok:
Scotsman link (http://news.scotsman.com/scotland.cfm?id=566362005)
Air traveller is jailed for molesting stewardesses
JOHN CONNOR
A PASSENGER who sexually molested two air stewardesses and behaved in a "boorish" manner on an EasyJet flight from France was yesterday jailed for eight months.
Boan D'Arc, of Edinburgh, was detained by police after flight crew radioed ahead to officers at Gatwick Airport about his behaviour. Air travellers cheered as police boarded the plane to arrest him.
The 40-year-old pleaded guilty at Lewes Crown Court, East Sussex, to indecently assaulting one stewardess by stroking her leg, speaking to her in French and telling her: "You're beautiful." He touched the other on the bottom.
The court heard that D'Arc, 40, began swigging vodka shortly after taking off on the one-and-a-half-hour flight from Toulouse to Gatwick.
Alissa Scott-Beckett, prosecuting, said D'Arc poked a fellow passenger in the chest, staggered around the aisles and tried to get into the flight deck.
Ms Scott-Beckett said D'Arc was arrested when the aircraft landed at Gatwick Airport. "He was detained and removed from the plane to the cheering of passengers, because they felt increasing concern throughout this matter," she said.
Detailing his behaviour, she added: "The defendant, whilst sat down, was aware there was a stewardess next to him. She was leaning down placing items underneath the cupboards. She felt the defendant place his hand on the left cheek of her bottom. She spun around sharply so he couldn't do this again."
The defendant then walked to the front of the plane, which was out of bounds, and attempted to get to the flight deck, the court was told.
"A male cabin crew told him he couldn't go and at that point he went to the toilet," Ms Scott-Beckett added.
She said that after this D'Arc staggered up the aisle, and slapped the male crew member in the ribs.
"He pulled away and went to speak to the captain. The defendant started talking to an air stewardess who was guarding the door to the flight deck.
"He stroked her stomach and allowed his hand to continue down onto her leg.
"As he stroked her, he said: 'You are beautiful,' and continued to speak to her in French. She said she felt angry and disgusted by his actions."
Defending, Keith Goodhand, said D'Arc had drunk during the flight to help his fear of flying. He said: "Normally he avoids air travel, but by virtue of time restraints he decided to take that flight. He has let himself down, he has let his family down. It will be a long time before he can hold his head up high."
D'Arc admitted two counts of indecent assault, two of common assault and one of drunkenness on an aircraft.
Jailing him for a total of eight months, Judge Charles Kemp also ordered he sign the sex offenders' register for ten years.
He told him: "Your conduct was abusive, it was boorish, and as far as those two female air staff it was sexually offensive."
Scotsman link (http://news.scotsman.com/scotland.cfm?id=566362005)
Air traveller is jailed for molesting stewardesses
JOHN CONNOR
A PASSENGER who sexually molested two air stewardesses and behaved in a "boorish" manner on an EasyJet flight from France was yesterday jailed for eight months.
Boan D'Arc, of Edinburgh, was detained by police after flight crew radioed ahead to officers at Gatwick Airport about his behaviour. Air travellers cheered as police boarded the plane to arrest him.
The 40-year-old pleaded guilty at Lewes Crown Court, East Sussex, to indecently assaulting one stewardess by stroking her leg, speaking to her in French and telling her: "You're beautiful." He touched the other on the bottom.
The court heard that D'Arc, 40, began swigging vodka shortly after taking off on the one-and-a-half-hour flight from Toulouse to Gatwick.
Alissa Scott-Beckett, prosecuting, said D'Arc poked a fellow passenger in the chest, staggered around the aisles and tried to get into the flight deck.
Ms Scott-Beckett said D'Arc was arrested when the aircraft landed at Gatwick Airport. "He was detained and removed from the plane to the cheering of passengers, because they felt increasing concern throughout this matter," she said.
Detailing his behaviour, she added: "The defendant, whilst sat down, was aware there was a stewardess next to him. She was leaning down placing items underneath the cupboards. She felt the defendant place his hand on the left cheek of her bottom. She spun around sharply so he couldn't do this again."
The defendant then walked to the front of the plane, which was out of bounds, and attempted to get to the flight deck, the court was told.
"A male cabin crew told him he couldn't go and at that point he went to the toilet," Ms Scott-Beckett added.
She said that after this D'Arc staggered up the aisle, and slapped the male crew member in the ribs.
"He pulled away and went to speak to the captain. The defendant started talking to an air stewardess who was guarding the door to the flight deck.
"He stroked her stomach and allowed his hand to continue down onto her leg.
"As he stroked her, he said: 'You are beautiful,' and continued to speak to her in French. She said she felt angry and disgusted by his actions."
Defending, Keith Goodhand, said D'Arc had drunk during the flight to help his fear of flying. He said: "Normally he avoids air travel, but by virtue of time restraints he decided to take that flight. He has let himself down, he has let his family down. It will be a long time before he can hold his head up high."
D'Arc admitted two counts of indecent assault, two of common assault and one of drunkenness on an aircraft.
Jailing him for a total of eight months, Judge Charles Kemp also ordered he sign the sex offenders' register for ten years.
He told him: "Your conduct was abusive, it was boorish, and as far as those two female air staff it was sexually offensive."