Drunk Bramley dad who caused 'mayhem' on Jet2 flight from Malaga to Leeds Bradford Airport is jailed

A nervous flyer who got drunk and became aggressive on a Jet2.com flight from Malaga to Leeds Bradford Airport has been jailed.
A Jet.com aircraftA Jet.com aircraft
A Jet.com aircraft

Leeds Crown Court heard David Bronson was on the flight with his partner and two youngest children when he drank excessively and wet himself.

Prosecutor, Carley Green said Bronson was drunk and was slurring his words before becoming aggressive with his partner and his young daughter

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Miss Green said Bronson, 41, grabbed his daughter's face, making her cry.

He started annoying other passengers while walking up and down the aisle during the flight on July 11 2019.

Miss Green said Bronson's partner asked the flight attendant if she and the children could move seats, but Bronson refused to let them.

Mis Green said Bronson put his young daughter in a headlock and told the flight attendant to "f**k off."

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Miss Green said: "He was heard to say, 'I will take this plane down', but there are three different accounts of what he said.

"He said he said, 'You need to hurry up and bring this plane down' as he is an anxious flyer.

Ms Green said Bronson fell asleep and cabin crew were afraid to wake him to tell him to put his seatbelt on for landing because afraid of what he may do.

The court heard another passenger witnessed Bronson slapping his partner, causing her head to jolt back, and telling her: "I told you it would happen again."

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A large bottle of vodka - which the court heard was three quarters empty - was found near his seat.

Bronson, of Fairfield Hill, Bramley, admitted being drunk on an aircraft.

In 2018 Bronson was convicted of failing to supply a breath specimen while being investigated on suspicion of drink driving.

Martin Morrow, mitigating, said Bronson is a father-of-three who works as a plasterer and painter and decorator.

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Mr Morrow said: "The underlying factor clearly is alcohol. He has flown for a number of years for pleasure and business purposes.

"He has always found flying particularly difficult."

Mr Morrow said Bronson had alcohol in an attempt to "calm himself down" and drank to excess, adding: "He says things got too much for him and that is how he has ended up behaving in the way he has.

"He is adamant that he didn't at any stage get his young daughter in a headlock."

Mr Morrow said Bronson is a "bad flyer" and just wanted the plane to land as quickly as possible.

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He said Bronson has since been to an alcohol treatment centre and no longer drinks alcohol.

Mr Morrow said: "He was banned by Jet.com for 12 months following the offence.

"He had put a deposit down for a further holiday that was lost as a result of the offence.

"He can now resume flying again both personally and professionally. He has to some extent been punished by the airline.

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"This is something that was totally out of character for the defendant. I don't think you will see him before the courts again."

Jailing Bronson for four months, Judge Rodney Jameson QC told him: "Your behaviour during the course of the flight was appalling.

"You created mayhem within the cabin at least mentally for those who were anywhere near you, particularly your partner and one of the children."

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Thank you

Laura Collins