‘Drunk’ mom, 44, who was escorted off a flight from Gran Canaria by police for hurling abuse at cabin crew simply weeks after being caught drink driving avoids jail

 A ‘drunk’ mother who was escorted off a flight from Gran Canaria by police for hurling abuse at cabin crew was told she was ‘very fortunate’ to avoid jail.

Shirley Devine, 44, launched into a foul-mouthed tirade whilst on a flight back to Manchester Airport after a family holiday on the Spanish island.

Her reign of abuse was so bad that cabin crew called in officers once the plane had landed to find Devine intoxicated and slurring her words, Manchester Evening News reports.

Just weeks before the incident, Devine had appeared in court on drink driving charges and was given a suspended prison sentence and ordered to remain abstinent from alcohol.

And in this case, Judge Elizabeth Nicholls said she would defer sentencing until April, adding: ‘You may consider yourself very fortunate.’

During the flight on September 30, cabin crew noticed that Devine smelled of alcohol and was sitting with her head resting on her arms.

Devine told staff she felt okay, but later on pushed one member of the crew from behind as she tried to get around them, calling them a ‘f****** fat b****’.

Shortly after returning to her seat, Devine became ‘aggressive’ when asked to hand over her boarding pass and passport, Manchester Crown Court heard.

Shirley Devine, 44, was escorted off a flight from Gran Canaria by police for hurling abuse at cabin crew

Devine launched into a foul-mouthed tirade whilst on a flight back to Manchester Airport (pictured) after a family holiday on the Spanish island

Prosecutor Sam Eskdale said the captain alerted the airport that the police would be required when the aircraft landed.

After being put into a police van, she told officers: ‘You can just f*** off’, before she began ‘thrashing’ around and banging her head.

Devine had also appeared at Liverpool Crown Court on September 4 for offences of drink driving and dangerous driving.

She was given a suspended prison sentence, and as part of her punishment was ordered to remain abstinent from alcohol.

But she had not drunk alcohol during the holiday, her barrister Anthony Horsfall said.

He added that Devine had ‘turned to alcohol’ after a long-term relationship broke down and the sudden passing of her father.

Bar the incident on the flight, Mr Horsfall said Devine had been complying well with probation and has been seeking support through a number of organisations.

Devine being jailed would have an impact on her teenage daughter, who relies on her for care needs, Mr Horsefall said.

Just weeks before the incident, Devine had appeared in court on drink driving charges and was given a suspended prison sentence and ordered to remain abstinent from alcohol

He said that the defendant has a job lined up as a hairdresser which would start next month.

Sentencing, the judge told Devine: ‘The experience of a drunk person in the confines of an aircraft is terrifying. It poses a risk to safety.

‘You are an alcoholic. That is an illness. Perhaps you have less control than others over your intake and ingestion of alcohol.’

Devine, of Cornfields Close, Liverpool, pleaded guilty to being drunk on an aircraft.