Dad of one banned from airline for LIFE after a drunken fight
FLYBE has banned a father of one for life from flying with them after he assaulted a stewardess on a board a flight to Manchester, a court heard.
Lance Wheelwright has been banned from the low-cost carrier Flyby, after he drunkenly pushed a flight attendance when refused alcohol, Manchester’s Minshull Street Crown Court heard.
The 33-year-old had been returning from a trip to Amsterdam when the incident happened.
Wheelwright lost his temper when the cabin crew refused to give him eight cans of Stella Artois and instead gave him just three beers - one for himself and two friends.
The court heard how he became “purple with rage”, assaulted a crew member and racially abused a passenger.
Manchester Evening News reported prosecutor Duncan Wilcock saying the incident took place as the plane was preparing to land on November 10, 2016.
Wheelwright became abusive towards a crew member and called her a "f****** b****”. And as passengers were leaving the plane, he said “move b****” before shoving her.
Mr Wilcock told the court: “With both hands out in from of him, he pushed (her) to the chest. She staggered backwards but managed to remain on her feet.”
Wheelwright then shouted at a passenger who tried to intervene, saying: “Mind you own business you fat Australian ****,” before threatening to kill another member of staff.
With both hands out in from of him, he pushed (her) to the chest. She staggered backwards but managed to remain on her feet
Mr Wilcock added: “The company has banned him for life from flying with them in the future.
“This is the first time such as order has been placed by this airline.”
Wheelwright, from Merseyside, pleaded guilty to three charges at an earlier magistrates court hearing.
He was charged with one count of assault, one count of using threatening words or behaviour and one count of using racially aggravated threatening words or behaviour.
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Quentin Hunt, who represented Wheelwright, said his client was “genuinely remorseful for his behaviour”.
“He clearly lost control, became incoherent and displayed poor behaviour,” he added.
Wheelwright received a five-month custodial sentence, suspended for 12 months.
He has also been ordered to carry out 40 hours of unpaid work and pay £500 in compensation to each of the three victims.
A spokesperson for Flyby told Express.co.uk: “The safety and security of our passengers and crew is Flybe’s number one priority, we have a zero tolerance policy with any form of on-board behaviour that might in any way compromise this.”
The story comes after a holidaymaker's renewed UK passport arrived with the wrong photo inside, just week's before he is due to travel to Amsterdam.