Drunken passenger who disrupted flight jailed

A drunken passenger who threatened cabin crew and frightened passengers on a Jet2 flight from Turkey to the UK has been jailed for 14 months.

Jason Roddis had argued with his partner during the night flight to Leeds Bradford Airport in June last year, Bradford Court Court heard.

Roddis, 37, from Bradford, had been drinking from a bottle of wine he brought onto the plane and told one crew member he would "smash her face in".

He pleaded guilty to being drunk on an aircraft, common assault in relation to the cabin crew, racially aggravated harassment and criminal damage.

Prosecutor Ben Sayers said Roddis was being loud and swearing on the flight, with the near-empty wine bottle taken away from him.

He was then found to be drinking from another bottle of wine, the hearing heard, which was also confiscated.

Mr Sayers said a cabin crew member tried to give Roddis a disruption notice - a formal warning about their behaviour - but the defendant ripped it up and threw it back.

The pilot considered diverting the plane to get Roddis off, the court heard, but the flight was only 30 minutes away from landing at Leeds Bradford Airport.

Police arrested him once the plane landed, the sentencing heard.

"The defendant's behaviour lasted for over an hour," said Mr Sayers.

Representing Roddis, barrister Rebecca Young said he had been in Turkey to look after his mother who had undergone a hip replacement operation.

She said he had been drinking on the plane as he suffered from severe anxiety and depression and had not been able to get his medication.

The court heard he had 42 previous convictions for 89 offences.

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