A plane passenger who was heavily intoxicated made threats to cabin crew on a flight from Turkey while causing fellow passengers to fear for their safety. Two hours into the flight, Jason Roddis became involved in an argument with his partner which caught the attention of staff members on board.
The 37-year-old was described shouting and using offensive words, and was drunk after drinking from a bottle of wine he had brought onto the plane. The bottle, which was nearly empty, was confiscated but he continued to be offensive.
A second bottle of wine was taken from the defendant following a complaint made by another passenger and an attempt was made to give Roddis a "disruption notice" but he ripped up the document and threw it back at the member of cabin crew. F or the latest court reports sign up to our crime newsletter here.
The defendant then threatened to "smash her face in" and said to another member of staff: "I'll smash your head in." Speaking to a sentencing hearing at Bradford Crown Court, prosecutor Ben Sayers said the pilot considered diverting the Jet2 flight but decided to continue to the plane's destination at Leeds Bradford Airport, where police officers were ready to arrest Roddis, reports Yorkshire Live.
Mr Sayers said the defendant's behaviour lasted for more than an hour, and when arrested he was unsteady on his feet. He was racially abusive towards a police officer while being taken into custody and caused criminal damage to a police van.
Defence barrister Rebecca Young said Roddis had travelled to Turkey to care for his mother who received an operation for a hip replacement. She said her client suffered "severe anxiety and depression" and did not have access to his medication in Turkey. As a result, his mental health deteriorated during the flight, and was exacerbated by his drinking
Roddis, of Vignola Terrace, Bradford, admitted being drunk on an aircraft, two counts of common assault, racially aggravated harassment and criminal damage. The court heard he has 42 previous convictions for 89 offences.
Recorder Patrick Palmer sentenced the defendant to 14 months imprisonment, with an additional four months imprisonment for an offence of theft, regarding the theft of a woman's handbag in December last year.
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