A drunken passenger who behaved “disgracefully” on a Newcastle-bound flight from a Spanish holiday destination has escaped an immediate prison sentence.

But Paul Donnelly has a suspended sentence hanging over him and he must complete a lengthy unpaid work order in the community as a result of his drunken aggression on the return Ryanair flight, from Alicante, on July 17 last year.

The 52-year-old defendant, of Whalton Court, Wardley, in Gateshead, was warned he could be facing a prison sentence after he admitted charges of entering an aircraft when drunk and assault by beating of a fellow passenger, at a previous hearing at Durham Crown Court.

Recorder Gurdial Singh warned Connelly that he was, “looking down both barrels”, of a first prison sentence due to his “loutish” behaviour, aggravated by the assault on a fellow passenger.

The Northern Echo:

He told the defendant: “You were not in a bar. You were in a plane 30,000ft up and I can only imagine the fear other people had.

“The way you behaved was, quite frankly, disgraceful.”

As he was unrepresented at that hearing, he was told he should have the assistance of a lawyer as he was at risk of losing his liberty, and the case was adjourned for sentence until today (Friday February 2).

The Northern Echo:

Chris Baker, prosecuting, told the sentencing hearing that Donnelly was arrested when the flight landed at Newcastle International Airport after air traffic control received notification from the flight commander that there was an unruly drunken passenger on board.

He was said to have sworn at other passengers, assaulting a man who tried to calm him, and made general threats.

The court heard the self-employed tradesman has no previous offences and his behaviour was triggered by the amount he had drunk.

Matthew Simpson, for Donnelly, presented medical evidence to the court in the hope of persuading the sentencing judge, Judge Jo Kidd, to avoid passing an immediate prison sentence.

She told Donnelly that, “in light of your medical conditions, which are serious”, and due to the potential consequences of a prison sentence on his health, she would “draw back” from passing an immediate term of custody.

Judge Kidd said had Donnelly taken the case to trial he would have received a 12-month sentence.

But with credit for his guilty plea at the previous hearing she said she would reduce it to nine months, which would be suspended for two years.

He was told he must undertake 200-hours’ unpaid work in the community in the next 12 months and he also ordered to pay a £187 statutory court surcharge.

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Judge Kidd told Donnelly: “If you breach this order you will be back in front of me and I’ll activate the suspended sentence order, and you will be going to prison."

She said if he had medical issues preventing him taking part in any of the unpaid work sessions he should bring it to the attention of the Probation Service.

As Donnelly was discharged from the dock, Judge Kidd added: “Make sure you don’t come back in front of me.”