Stephen Blofield, 61, downed doubles before boarding the flight to Bristol and told crew who tried to calm him down “You can’t tell me what to do, I’m English.”
A drunk plane passenger screamed ‘I’m savage, I drink JD” and “You can’t tell me what to do, I’m English” on a flight.
Stephen Blofield, 61, was so intoxicated on the plane that both crew and fellow holidaymakers feared for their safety. North Somerset Court heard how Blofield had been drinking doubles at the airport in Krakow and his flight was on the approach to Bristol Airport when he became abusive, causing widespread alarm.
At one point he screamed to fellow passengers “I’m savage, I drink JD.” And when asked by the crew to calm down, he told them “You can’t tell me what to do, I’m English.”
Blofield, of Haverfordwest, Pembrokeshire, also ignored the pilot’s demands and was filmed on police bodyworn footage being arrested on board the plane after landing at Bristol Airport.
The defendant, wearing blue jeans and a green zip up top, pleaded guilty to four charges relating to the incident on 11 November last year when he appeared at North Somerset Magistrates Court on Tuesday.
Prosecutor Michael Collins told the court: “The charges are self explanatory. On 11 November last year a Boeing 737 was on the final approaches to Bristol at Feltham.
“The defendant seemed to be very drunk. Multiple passengers described him as loud, volatile, intoxicated and repeatedly swearing.
“He told the passengers ‘I’m savage because I drink JD.
‘”The cabin crew asked him to sit. He said ‘you can not tell me what to do, I’m English. The cabin around him was visibly fearful. Several were recording on their mobile phones. The captain then made a lawful demand for you to seated.”
Mr Collins said this was ignored by the defendant, endangering safe operations of the aircraft.
He added: “Police attended and on arrival officers boarded the plane. The defendant continued his aggressive behaviour. He had glazed red eyes and was smelling of alcohol. He was calling the officer a ‘c**t’ and had to be restrained. The incident was captured on recorded footage.”
Magistrates heard Blofield had drunk two doubles at the airport and described himself as a “bit drunk”. The court heard Blofield was later “ashamed, embarrassed and accepted his behaviour.”
Four charges were put to Blofield in the dock. These included entering an aircraft while drink and a second charge of failing to obey the lawful commands of the pilot, to remain seated, which was given “for the purpose of securing the safety of the aircraft.” The additional two charges were behaving in a threatening, abusive, insulting or disorderly manner towards a member of aircraft crew, and using threatening abusive words or behaviour likely to cause harassment, alarm or distress in relation to the other passengers.
Blofield told the court: “I plead guilty to all charges.”
The defence asked for a pre-sentence report as he has significant health conditions that probation needed to properly investigate.
Blofield was released on unconditional bail to appear at Bristol Crown Court for sentencing on 7 April.
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