An airline passenger who attacked cabin crew and violently abused other travellers while flying to Gatwick has been sent to prison for five months and made to pay over £3,500.
Omar Edwards of Bow in London was travelling back from Jamaica to Gatwick Airport in November 2022.
Cabin crew issued warnings to him, about seizing items from other passengers’ seats, vaping on board, and grabbing at refreshments.
He repeatedly ignored the warnings about his behaviour, and then assaulted one of the cabin crew workers.
His behaviour caused alarm and distress to other passengers.
Sussex Police said late on Wednesday that officers were sharing details about the case to raise awareness that abuse of cabin crew workers on board flights is not acceptable.
At Crawley Magistrates’ Court on March 27 Edwards was found guilty of behaving in a threatening, abusive, insulting and disorderly manner to cabin crew, contrary to the Air Navigation Order 2016, and was found guilty of assault.
Edwards, 26, a labourer of Medway Road, Bow, London, was subsequently sentenced to five months in prison.
He was also ordered to pay compensation of £2,400 to the victims on board, a £500 fine, and £675 court costs: a total of £3,575.
The court was told how the incidents happened on November 12 in 2022 on a return flight from Jamaica.
Edwards was first to board the aircraft, and was seen grabbing items from seats in an area of the aircraft he was not travelling in.
He was challenged twice about this.
Then he was spoken to by a cabin crew member after he was suspected of vaping in the toilet on board.
It is illegal to use vapes as the batteries cause a risk of fire inside the aircraft.
Edwards had previously been warned about vaping on board the outbound flight from London Gatwick.
After being challenged, he became abusive and swore at cabin crew workers.
He demanded a drink and was told to sit down, and a drink would be taken to him.
But instead he snatched a carton of juice and tried to walk away.
During the incident he then assaulted a cabin crew worker.
Investigating officer Detective Constable Graham Gray from Gatwick CID said:
"All abuse of cabin crew is unacceptable, it should not be seen as just a part of their job.
"Edwards’ behaviour was so poor that despite being given numerous warnings, he continued to ignore cabin crew.
"Indeed his behaviour was so poor that he was given an official written warning by the captain on board.
"This case demonstrates that abuse of airline workers is not acceptable and we will pursue offenders to ensure they are prosecuted."
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