Drunken plane lout Lewis Howarth Faces Jail (Image: Cavendish Press)
A businessman faces jail for his drunken antics which caused a holiday jet to turn round on the runway – and passengers to applaud police dragging him off the plane.
Father-of-two Lewis Howarth, 36, caused such mayhem on the Manchester to Turkey Jet2 flight that it stopped take-off and returned to the terminal as he abused horrified stewardesses.
The building boss called one female steward a “d**khead” before abusing two police officers who boarded the jet and then kicked one in the face.
He subsequently flew with a different airline to Turkey to join his partner and children but shamelessly posted flippant jokes on Facebook about his arrest saying: “Right, let’s try this again. Just a coke this time,” with a laughing emoji.
Tameside Magistrates had looked to sentence him on Friday after he admitted being drunk on an aircraft, common assault of an emergency worker and assault by beating.
But JPs decided his offending was so serious their own powers of up to six months in prison was insufficient so have sent him to the crown court at a future date.
Drunken plane lout Lewis Howarth Faces Jail (Image: Cavendish Press)
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The incident occurred on August 29th this year when Howarth boarded Flight LS921 at Manchester Airport after drinking heavily in the departure lounge.
Prosecutor Gareth Hughes said: “The fight was due to take off at 4.15pm but was delayed until about 5.45pm. A stewardess became aware the defendant appeared to be extremely intoxicated.
“She approached the male and asked him to take a seat and put his seat belt on. He was slurring his words and swearing.
“She made the pilot aware of the situation and over the next 10 minutes she continued to speak to the defendant.
“He got out of his seat and called her a ‘d***head’. He got in her face and she believed he was trying to intimidate her.
“By this time they were already making their way to the runway from the gate but as the pilot heard news of the situation he wanted the male to be removed. They then taxi-ed back.
“Police met the plane and the officers were met by applause. The defendant stumbled on his feet having to hold on to a seat. His eyes were red, his face was red. He was clearly extremely drunk.
“One of the officers tried to walk him down the aisle but when a PC Ecob said, ‘Do you need a hand?’ the defendant said, ‘F*** off you pr**k.’
“The officer took him by the scruff of the neck while the other held the defendant’s arms from behind. But he lunges his head forwards – the officer was concerned he was going to headbutt him so they carried him out of the aircraft.
“He was heard to say ‘I will bite you, you c**t’ and attempted to bite PC Ben Morton on the hand. He was also lashing out with his legs and kicked PC Ecob in the mouth with his feet.”
Drunken plane lout Lewis Howarth Faces Jail (Image: Cavendish Press)
Drunken plane lout Lewis Howarth Faces Jail (Image: Cavendish Press)
Don’t miss…
Drunken plane lout Lewis Howarth Faces Jail (Image: Cavendish Press)
PC Morton said: “The defendant was irresponsible and give no thought to the safety of other passengers or the police officers he was resisting in a confined space.
“I will never understand why people think behaviour like this is appropriate. It never can be justified.”
Howarth had previous convictions for assault on police and drug driving. His lawyer Jon Mail said: “There is a certain amount of inevitability of the matter going to the crown court.”
JP Brendan Harte told him: “It is just fortunate that the pilot took the decision that he did because the anxiety of the other passengers and crew must have been high.”
At the end of the hearing, Howarth spoke from the dock to say: “It won’t be happening again. I do not even drink anymore.”