A woman who assaulted two people on a Ryanair flight while drunk on a plane has been told “all options remain available” when she returns for sentencing next month.
Catherine Bellis, 44, was aboard a flight from Tenerife to Liverpool in November last year when she assaulted Christopher Kenny and Beata Haynes. She was also charged with being drunk on an aircraft. Bellis, who wore a black blazer and high heels and sported blonde hair, pleaded guilty to all three charges and will be sentenced at the same court on May 12 and was given unconditional bail before her return, Liverpool Echo reported.
Callum Ross, defending, told the court his client is a woman of previous good character. Addressing Bellis, Judge Anil Murray said she had pleaded guilty to the charges and would be awarded credit at her sentencing.
He told her: “There are no promises on what your sentence will be. All options remain available including an immediate custodial sentence.”
Bellis was asked to meet the Probation Service following the end of the brief hearing to prepare a pre-sentence report.
Yesterday it was reported Ryanair crew had to strap down an “unruly” passenger with extra seat belts after he caused chaos by refusing to take his seat while the plane was landing, witnesses claim.
The disruptive flyer on the Manchester to Rhodes service reportedly lost his cool after cabin crew confiscated two bottles of alcohol from him and cut off his booze supply.
The rogue traveller allegedly managed to wriggle free from impromptu restraints, leading the pilot to cancel the plane’s descent into Rhodes, perform an aerial loop, then make a second attempt to land.
Upon touchdown on April 3, Rhodes police boarded the aircraft to haul away the troublemaker.
Amateur video captured during the flight shows personnel and passengers wrestling with the situation and an attendant firmly instructing: “Sit down, now”, followed by scenes of the police ushering the miscreant down the aisle post-landing.
A spokesperson for Ryanair said: “The crew of this flight from Manchester to Rhodes on April 3 called ahead for police assistance after a passenger became disruptive onboard.
The aircraft was met by local police upon arrival at Rhodes Airport and this passenger was removed.
“Ryanair has a strict zero-tolerance policy towards passenger misconduct and will continue to take decisive action to combat unruly passenger behaviour, ensuring all passengers and crew travel in a safe and respectful environment, without unnecessary disruption.”
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