He may face serious jail time
A passenger of a Ryan Air jet apparently groped the genitals of a male flight attendant and asked him, “Are you gay?” Now he's in big trouble.
Mr. Thomas Sleigh, 45, was found guilty of sexual assault against a crew member on a Ryanair flight from Murcia, Spain to Manchester, England.
Sleigh claimed his grope was accidental but the court didn't buy it. He now faces up to 10 years in jail and may be required to be part of the sex offenders register during sentencing later this month.
More: Man gangraped in prison
The following was reported by Pink News:
“Prosecutor Nicole Durham said that Sleigh was travelling back to Manchester with his family and his daughter on 7 September 2016.
Durham said that Sleigh had drunk three cans of beer before the flight, and that his daughter had been drinking alcohol not purchased on the plane.
When the victim approached the group asking to collect a can, Sleigh then “grabbed” and “flicked” his genitals, said prosecutors.”
It sounds like things went from bad to worse. More from PN:
“He was heard asking the victim “are you gay”, and then seen sticking his middle finger up at the attendant.
The victim, giving evidence in court, said: “I didn’t answer his question. I stepped back in shock.
“‘I said: ‘Don’t ever touch me in that area ever again’.’
According to Ms Durham, Sleigh’s daughter said, “he is joking”.
“So you think it’s a joke to be touched in that area? How would you like it?” the victim said.
Sleigh was arrested when the plane landed in Manchester.
Ms Durham told the court: “This person has been targeted because of his perceived sexuality.”
Sleigh had later claimed it was an accident that he touched the groin of the victim, and Shane O’Neill defending, said he had been resting his head in his hand which caused him to accidentally touch the victim.
In his defense, Sleigh said he had no problem with gay people because his son is gay.
Chair of the bench, Lorraine Lighton said she did not believe that Sleigh touched the victim by accident.
Sleigh will be sentenced at Manchester Magistrates Court on 23 March after being unconditionally granted bail.”
If more is reported on this story, we will share.
h/t: Pink News
