Blue star Lee Ryan has been found guilty of racially aggravated assault after drinking a whole bottle of port before boarding a flight. The singer drunkenly told a black flight attendant “I want your chocolate children” on a British Airways plane flying from Glasgow to London on July 31 last year.
A court heard how the 39-year-old celeb was “slurring his words and staggering around” on board the flight. After being refused more alcohol on the plane and told to return to his seat, Ryan made comments about Leah Gordon’s looks, calling her a “chocolate cookie” before grabbing her wrists.
She said Ryan initially called her “beautiful” and put his sunglasses on her face. Ms Gordon told Ealing Magistrates’ Court: “He was making comments about my complexion, you’re my chocolate darling, my chocolate cookie, and I’m going to have your chocolate children.”
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“It felt like he was saying I was beautiful for a black person because of the way he was describing my colour," she said. Ms Gordon said Ryan later approached her from behind, saying: “Before I get off this plane I need a kiss from you.”
Ryan was found guilty of being drunk on an aircraft, assaulting a police officer by biting him, racially aggravated common assault by beating and behaving in an abusive way towards the cabin crew member. Ryan, who was tearful in the dock before giving evidence, told the court his actions were merely “playful” and denied use of the word chocolate was racist.
The singer told the court he drank a whole bottle of port and ate cheese in the BA lounge after the flight was delayed. He said he recalled “annoying” a passenger next to him by asking what book he was reading, with no recollection of what occurred after that.
The pop star went on: “I’m sorry. My band member is black, I’m not racist, I’ve had black girlfriends, mixed-race girlfriends. It was banter, just drunk banter I suppose, there was no malice or intention to upset anyone.” He added: “I didn’t mean to cause any distress to anyone or be racist, it was just a poor choice of words I suppose.”
Ryan said he was "sorry that I touched her", adding: "that’s all I did, touch her lightly, by her admission".
Ms Gordon said she told Ryan to “stay away” but he grabbed both her wrists before passengers intervened. She said: “He was towering over me, like he was leaning in to give me a kiss.”
She told the court: “I was intimidated, I felt a bit embarrassed like I wasn’t doing my duty properly. To get comments about my colour whether intentional or not, it was just unacceptable and so derogatory."
Today, January 12, the bench at Ealing Magistrates’ Court found the “racially aggravated element was proved”. The chair, Mr Badral, said: “We believe the language was demeaning and derogatory. We cannot accept the choice of the wording was simple banter.”
The court heard how Ryan told police officers in an interview: “I wish I could ring her up and apologise and offer her some Blue tickets for the next tour.” Officers claimed he tried to bite one of them after being arrested at the London airport, to which he replied: “I don’t remember that.” Police footage showed Ryan “snarling” and swearing at officers.
Another flight attendant, who also gave evidence in court, said she was approached by Ryan shortly after the plane departed. Jade Smith said: “He told me he had a problem, that he was being harassed by other passengers, that he was famous and asked did I know who he was.” Ryan asked to be upgraded from economy to business class but was refused as the plane was full, it was said.
Ms Smith said: “He was angry, saying he was a gold card holder and that he needed to be moved because of this.” She noticed Ryan was “slurring his words and staggering around” and cut him off from ordering alcohol, the court was told.
Ryan, who said he lives in Spain, was granted unconditional bail and the case has been adjourned until February 24.
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