A newly married husband ruined his dream honeymoon with his wife after drunkenly refusing to stop vaping on a holiday jet, a court has heard.
Christopher Thomson was due to go with his new wife Jenna for a romantic stay on the Greek island of Santorini last September.
However, the 43-year-old was thrown off the flight at Manchester Airport ahead of take off and arrested after ignoring repeated requests by Jet2 airline crew to stop vaping on board the aircraft.
As his bride Jenna looked on, Thomson who was said to have had glazed eyes and was frothing at the mouth, also flew into a rage and told the captain to ‘f*** off’ before being escorted off the plane.
Manchester Crown Court heard that his antics caused the flight at Manchester Airport to be delayed and its return journey to be cancelled as the crew were not able to staff it.
Christopher Thomson was due to go on a dream honeymoon with his new wife Jenna
Window fitter Thomspon pictured on his wedding day with new wife Jenna
When quizzed by police, Thomson, a window fitter from Warrington, Cheshire insisted he had not sworn at the captain in anger but swore in ‘exasperation’ after seeing the ‘look of disappointment and anguish’ on his wife’s face.
It emerged he had been drinking heavily in the departure lounge in the run up to the incident as his flight had been delayed, the court heard.
The incident occurred on September 16 after Thomson and his wife boarded the plane at Terminal One two months after their nuptials.
Prosecutor Tobias Collins, said: ‘The defendant had been spotted vaping by staff on the plane and told to stop. Staff said he was clearly intoxicated at the time and did not stop.
‘The captain determined he was a safety risk and went to speak to him – but he still did not stop and told the captain to ‘F*** off’. As a result of his behaviour, a flight was eventually cancelled due to the delay caused.
‘When police arrived, they met with the defendant and he was arrested.’
Christopher Thomson’s antics caused the flight at Manchester Airport to be delayed alongside the return journey
Account manager Jenna who sat outside the courtroom grim-faced throughout the proceedings
Mr Collins said that in response to the caution he told the officers they could not do that as he was on his honeymoon.
‘He was put in handcuffs,’ Mr Collins said, ‘He shouted for 10 minutes from the air bridge for his partner to film the incident, and to tell a lawyer. He was swearing and shouting on a number of occasions.
‘Offences committed in the air are more serious than those committed on the ground. It is noted that the aircraft was grounded.
‘However, the offence did occur in a confined space in an aircraft. There does not appear to be any evidence of physical violence.
‘The Crown is asking for compensation for Jet2 as the court sees fit. There is no evidence of how much this has cost before the court. An officer made reference to staff that it would cost thousands of pounds, but that is just hearsay.’
Thomson’s barrister Alistair Reid said: ‘There is no suggestion of any concern or anxiety or apprehension being caused to passengers. This was the observed use of vape while on a plane.
‘I do not seek to excuse that and Mr Thomson understands how inappropriate that was. He was approached by a member of staff, and he continued to use his vape. There is no dispute about that.
‘But there was a secondhand comment attributed by the officer to the flight crew, it was not taken from the captain himself.
‘He was told, because he had used the vape he would have to get off the plane. He was frustrated by that, but he complied. He then went to the front of the plane. He was embarrassed that he was due to be flying out with his wife for their honeymoon.
Christopher Thomson was said to have had glazed eyes and was frothing at the mouth
‘When he got onto the air bridge, that is when he used those words ‘F*** off’ to the captain.
‘He says it was not in an aggressive manner, but more in exasperation when he realised that things had escalated upon seeing the police.’
Reid added: ‘There is a marked difference between someone abusively and deliberately shouting those words at a person in a position of a responsibility, rather than a comment made, admittedly in a state of intoxication, in exasperation.
‘The reason for using the vape – the flight had already been delayed, he had spent the additional time consuming alcohol, more than he anticipated, and they were in good spirits. Due to the additional delay the defendant has instinctively reached for his vape and continued to use it.
‘It was poor judgment, partly due to his consumption of alcohol. There was no suggestion of threats of violence, or resisting, or abusing other passengers.
‘He was very candid with the probation service. He is mortified by what he did, the failure to comply with directions and the proper request of the flight crew. He properly regrets it.
‘The comment to the captain was not only because of the realisation of seeing the police there, but seeing his wife’s face and the disappointment and anguish he was causing her. He has taken full responsibility.
‘The attending officer, about what he was saying on the air bridge, said he was shouting at his partner to film the incident and to get him a lawyer. He was accepting what was happening, he was just making sure that he would be represented when he got to the police station.
‘He is ordinarily a very responsible and respectable man, works as a window fitter, is married and has two daughters. He has a number of family members in Majorca, including his father. This incident has caused him significant difficulties in terms of how to fly there.’
At Manchester Crown Court, Thomson pleaded guilty to being drunk on an aircraft and was sentenced to 10 weeks in custody, suspended for 12 months.
Sentencing, the judge Miss Recorder Jennifer Cleeve, also ordered Thomson to complete 180 hours of unpaid work and pay costs of £510.
Thomson pleaded guilty to being drunk on an aircraft and was sentenced to 10 weeks in custody, suspended for 12 months
She told him: ‘You were seen vaping on board having gone in in and out of the toilet several times. You refused to stop after being asked to stop by staff.
‘It could have caused serious danger or health consequences to other passengers.
‘It must have been terrifying for other passengers having seen smoke on the aircraft before even taking off.
‘The captain came to speak to you and you told him to ‘F*** off’. Your version is that was after being told to get off the plane.
‘As a result of your behaviour and the concerns about the safety risk, the plane had to return to its stand.’
The judge added: ‘You are confined in a tube in the sky and the safety of other passengers may well be put in jeopardy simply because of a relatively small incident that may have catastrophic consequences which may be unforeseen.
‘You caused great expense to the airline and had disregard for the health and safety of passengers by vaping and continuing to do so, in a confined space, in close proximity with other passengers who were not able to escape. You were abusive to the airline staff and the captain.
‘The airline could not operate the return flight. There was an inconvenience to the passengers on your flight and on the return flight. In terms of mitigating factors you do appear to be remorseful.
‘You have told the probation officer that you are absolutely mortified. No doubt you will also be upset at having ruined your honeymoon.
‘You told the probation service you have reduced your alcohol intake generally. You said you would reduce your alcohol intake on the plane and you certainly would not vape again.
‘You have been punished to some extent from the airline an you have also been punished at not being able to go on your honeymoon.
‘There is no suggestion that you abused passengers on board but you brought attention to yourself because of the vape rather than drunken and aggressive behaviour.’
Account manager Jenna who sat outside the courtroom grim-faced throughout the proceedings is standing by him.
Jet2 have banned him from flying with them for 12 months.