Virgin Atlantic passenger attacked her accomplice and swore at passengers in racist tirade after downing 15 cans of wine on long-haul flight

A woman on a long-haul flight assaulted her partner and spewed racist abuse at other passengers after drinking 15 cans of wine, a court heard.

Karen Baker, 59, elbowed and punched Steven White on a nine-hour Virgin Atlantic flight from Miami to London Heathrow in February this year in what was described as a ‘terrifying’ experience for other passengers. 

The couple appeared to get into an altercation after Baker turned around and ‘started to try and have a conversation with those seated around her, speaking very loudly, slurring her words,’ prosecutor Ashleigh Ettienne said.

When other passengers did not respond, Uxbridge Magistrates’ Court heard, Baker told one: ‘F*** you then.’

The prosecutor added: ‘Her partner tried to calm her down at which point she got in his face and shouted: “What the f*** did you say.”

‘She is then seen to assault her partner by trying to headbutt him and elbowing him a few times, and punching him.

‘He has then put his arms up to protect himself and he has had to call for assistance from cabin staff.’

The court was told that when passengers tried to help, she shouted at them: ‘I will be going back to my big house and you will be going back to your council houses.’ 

Baker, of Lincoln, East Midlands, appeared at Uxbridge Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday wearing a long beige coat and black trousers with black high heeled shoes

She is also said to have yelled at fellow passengers accusing them of kicking her seat, and to have made racist remarks.

Baker, from Lincoln, was moved by flight attendants to the back of the plane and told to calm down.

Prosecutor Ms Ettienne added: ‘She then continued to shout at other passengers. When a passenger told her to shut up, she responded: “Oh f*** off then.”‘

The drunken flyer then yelled at another passenger: ‘You are a cocky b****. Look at that ugly b**** – who does she think she is, Cruella de Ville?’

Miss Etienne added: ‘Police entered when the aircraft landed. Cabin crew stated that during the flight, she consumed 15 cans of wine.

‘The defendant stated she was ordering the cans for herself and her partner’s family but cabin crew noticed she was keeping the cans to herself.’

Miss Ettienne said fellow passengers ‘were left terrified’ throughout the nine hour flight.

Baker admitted being drunk on an aircraft, racially aggravated harassment and using threatening or abusive words to cause harassment, alarm, or distress.

She denied but was convicted of assault by beating.

Sucheta Rose, defending, asked for a community order and said she will give mitigation at a sentencing hearing at Isleworth Crown Court on November 12.

Magistrate Rex Da Rocha released Baker on unconditional bail until 12 November and said: ‘We have read the pre-sentence report and we are going to commit this to the crown court. Any mitigation is best for the Crown Court.’