A drunken Jet2 passenger who terrified fellow holidaymakers with his abusive behaviour on a flight to Turkey has been jailed.
On Thursday, March 13 Bradford Crown Court was told that two hours into the return night flight to Leeds Bradford Airport last summer, cabin crew were alerted to an argument between Jason Roddis and his partner.
Prosecutor Ben Sayers revealed that the 37 year old from Bradford was being loud and using foul language, having consumed alcohol from a bottle of wine he had brought onto the plane. Despite having the nearly empty bottle confiscated, Roddis continued his disruptive behaviour.
When another passenger lodged a complaint, it was discovered that Roddis had been drinking from a second bottle of wine, which was also taken away. Mr Sayers said a third crew member attempted to issue Roddis a “disruption notice’ but the foul-mouthed defendant ripped it up and threw it back.
The court heard that Roddis, of Vignola Terrace, told a crew member he would “smash her face in” and told her colleague: ”I’ll smash your head in.” Mr Sayers said the pilot considered diverting the plane to get Roddis off, but because they were about 30 minutes away they continued to Leeds Bradford Airport where police officers were waiting to arrest him.
“The defendant’s behaviour lasted for over an hour,” Mr Sayers added, reports Yorkshire Live.
Roddis was arrested in a state of severe intoxication and instability. During his arrest, he was racially abusive towards one of the officers and he also caused some damage to a police van.
Barrister Rebecca Young explained that her client had been in Turkey caring for his mother following her hip replacement surgery. She highlighted Roddis’ struggles with severe anxiety and depression, and the fact that he had been unable to access his medication while abroad. Miss Young noted that his mental health had worsened, leading him to drink on the flight.
Roddis, who has a history of 42 convictions for 89 offences, admitted to being drunk on an aircraft, two counts of common assault against cabin crew, racially aggravated harassment, and criminal damage.
Recorder Patrick Palmer sentenced him to 14 months in prison for these offences. An additional four months were added to his sentence after Roddis confessed to stealing a woman’s handbag from a parked car in Bradford in December of the previous year.
Recorder Palmer emphasised the severity of Roddis’ actions on the plane, noting that the staff were terrified and other passengers would have been equally frightened by his out-of-control behaviour.
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