A drunken dad who slurred 'the Mancs are terrorising me' after terrifying passengers on board a Ryanair flight has been banned by the airline.
John Medway was flying home from a family holiday in Fuerteventura to Liverpool John Lennon Airport on January 12 when his erratic behaviour started to terrify other passengers. The 32-year-old of Breck Road, Poulton, appeared at Liverpool Magistrates’ Court today after he had pleaded guilty to entering a flight when drunk.
The court heard how an hour into the flight a passenger told cabin crew Medway and his wife, who were with their three children, had an argument. The couple were separated and for 10 minutes Medway was calm.
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Laura Simpson, prosecuting, said the manager of cabin crew on the flight had to speak to him again as his behaviour was becoming worse. Medway later described himself as only being "five out ten” drunk - but the court heard he had downed three quarters of a litre bottle of vodka.
Ms Simpson told the court: “A passenger notified her he had been drinking duty free and a litre bottle of vodka he had was three quarters empty. He agreed to calm down but a short time later he was standing up being abusive to other passengers, shouting at them and provoking them into a response. He was unable to stay still.”
She added the manager told the captain and it was decided as the plane was only 45 minutes from Liverpool they would continue the flight and not divert. The manager said how passengers were upset by Medway’s behaviour and in 14 years working as cabin crew “this was one of the worst experiences I have had".
The manager added Medway was "drunk, aggressive and threatening other passengers and staff" and described his behaviour as "very disturbing.”
Police attended when the plane landed and Medway was described waving his arms around on the aircraft and slurring his words and and said "the Mancs are terrorising me".
Officers repeatedly tried to calm him down and he was arrested and had to be helped off the plane as he was unable to hold onto the hand rails. The dad-of-three was said to be completely oblivious to the danger of walking on a live air field.
Ms Simpson said he was also rambling "Mancs terrorising". The court heard as well as being banned from Ryanair flights, the 32-year-old may be barred from Liverpool John Lennon Airport.
Captain Ibrahim Nadim, defending, said that Medway, who had brought a large bag with him, was a hard working man who had pleaded guilty.
District Judge Wendy Lloyd said: “You made a decision to drink far too much knowing you are on a flight. No-one could go anywhere, people were stuck in a tin box high in the sky and unable to get away from you.
“It must have been a terrifying experience for the people on that plane, the staff and other passengers. Even when you had been handcuffed you continued with your dreadful behaviour and were warned numerous times and staff on board gave you every opportunity to calm down.
“Your suggestion you were only five out of ten drunk to the probation service is clearly nonsense as you were clearly drunk and even now trying to blame other passengers from Manchester and the police for your behaviour. You do not seem to fully take on board that all this was due to your bad behaviour.
“You have a number of previous convictions including drink and disorderly in 2019 which suggests you have an on-going issue with alcohol. You have worked as a HGV driver for some time - for someone who has a drink problem that is rather concerning.”
DJ Lloyd said the probation report stated: “Despite his 32 years and is in full time employment you are in many ways an immature man and not able to take responsibility for your own behaviour. You certainly need to do that, you have a wife who is experiencing some health issues and you have three children.”
The judge said a 20 week jail sentence was appropriate, but as the probation service felt they could work with him in a positive way she would suspend it for 12 months. She also ordered Medway to carry out 240 hours unpaid work and 30 hours rehabilitation actives and to pay costs totalling £274.
Addressing the 32-year-old in court, DJ Lloyd said: “This is your opportunity to turn your life around. You are a man of contrasts - working hard, a family man and time from time behaving ridiculously and drink seems to be behind all these incidents.”
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