A British man is now on his country’s Sex Offenders Register after he flicked a male flight attendant’s privates on a Ryanair flight from Spain to the UK last September.
45-year-old Thomas Sleigh, a father-of-three, and his wife Michaela were caught sneaking booze onto the flight and ordered to hand it over by the flight attendant..
Sleigh, who had already consumed three beers before boarding the plane, responded angrily by flicking the cabin crew member in the groin.
The shocked air steward told him not to touch him “in that area ever again,” to which Sleigh responded by asking him: “Are you gay?”
According to The Manchester Evening News, Sleigh was traveling back to his home in Stockport, Greater Manchester, with his wife and their 24-year-old daughter from a week’s vacation in Murcia, Spain. He was arrested by police shortly after he disembarked in Manchester.
Following a trial over the “sexual assault”, Sleigh was found guilty and ordered to perform 200 hours of unpaid community service, and pay $375 in fines. He must also register as sex offender for five years to atone for his actions. While on the dreaded list, he must inform the police of any changes to his residence or employment.
Sleigh maintained in court that his offense was an “accident.” His lawyer says that Sleigh apologized to the victim on the flight, and that he isn’t homophobic because one of his sons is gay.
Sleigh, who is currently employed as a supervisor at an ambulance cleaning company, has been suspended on full pay since his conviction.
His lawyer said: “The thing that’s upsetting him most is the fact that he feels he has let his son down by these alleged comments.”
Ian Miles Cheong is a journalist and outspoken media critic. You can reach him through social media at @stillgray on Twitter and on Facebook.
