Stephen Blofield, who has been jailed (Image: Avon and Somerset Police/PA)
A drunk plane passenger has been jailed after he 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 on board the Ryanair plane that was being operated by Buzz, a court heard.
He was sentenced to 10 months in prison on Tuesday and was labelled « extraordinarily abusive » by a judge. The court heard he 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 throughout the Boeing aircraft.
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Stephen Blofield at North Somerset Courthouse, Weston Super-Mare (Image: William Dax / SWNS)
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. »
Bristol Crown Court heard the captain was even forced to abandon his initial landing attempt because Blofield refused to remain seated and secure his seatbelt.
Blofield, of Haverfordwest, Pembrokeshire, also ignored the pilot’s demands and was filmed on police body-worn footage being arrested at Bristol Airport on board after landing.
The defendant had earlier pleaded guilty to four charges relating to the incident on November 11 last year when he appeared at North Somerset Magistrates Court and was sentenced at Bristol Crown Court.
Judge Euan Ambrose told him: « You were drunk when you got on board and you continued to drink while on board, becoming increasingly drunk during the flight.
Stephen Blofield screamed ‘I’m savage, I drink JD’, the court heard (Image: Avon and Somerset police / SWNS)
« Your behaviour deteriorated, you became disruptive and aggressive and refused to follow basic safety instructions from the crew, such as being asked to sit down, fasten your seatbelt and matters of that sort.
« You caused great concern and fear amongst fellow passengers and also fear and alarm to the crew.
« Your behaviour was such that the first attempt at landing into Bristol had to be aborted and when the plane finally did manage to land, police were called and boarded the plane.
« When they approached you, they found you drunk, aggressive, confrontational and extraordinarily abusive towards them. »
The court heard that on November 11 last year, the Boeing 737 was on the final approach to Bristol at Feltham.
Multiple passengers had described him as loud, volatile, intoxicated and repeatedly swearing and at one point shouted « I’m savage because I drink JD. »
When the cabin crew asked him to sit, he told them: « you can not tell me what to do, I’m English, » the court heard.
The cabin around him was visibly fearful with several people recording on their mobile phones, prosecutors said.
Blofield then ignored the captain making a lawful demand for him to be seated, endangering safe operations of the aircraft.
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, who has an extensive criminal record and is on benefits, pleaded guilty to all charges.
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