A holidaymaker hauled off a passenger jet after a 30-minute-long spitting and biting rampage hurled racist abuse at police officers arresting him – kicking off so badly cops has to put a spit hood on him.
Christopher Burgess lost the plot as he returned from a holiday in Alicante and had to be restrained by other passengers while the plane was still in the sky.
When officers board the plane they found him face down on the floor as his fellow travellers continued to restrain him, saying he had been ‘biting and spitting’ for around half an hour.
Manchester Evening News reports the flight in question returned to Manchester Airport on November 8, 2023 and Burgess landed in court over his antics.
Bradley Mather, prosecuting, told Minshull Street Crown Court: “They could clearly smell intoxicants, he was slurring his speech and frothing at the mouth.”
A number of families, including children, had moved away from Burgess to ‘keep their distance’ and some children were being shielded by their parents.
Officers tried to restrain him, but he resisted arrest by putting his arms under his body. They deployed ‘distracted shots’ to get him to release his arms so he could be put into leg restraints.
A spit hood was also placed over the 44-year-old. Another passenger at the scene said he had been ‘repeatedly abused’ by Burgess during the flight and had attempted to bite him.
On the way to a local police station, Burgess’ behaviour continued as he was abusive, shouting and making threats to ‘f*** up’ the officers, calling one a homophobic slur.
Another officer got into the back of the van and tried to keep him to one side to stop him from banging his head. “The defendant responded with the following: ‘F*** off, you **** c***’. He then continued being racist and abusive until they arrived at the station.
He was interviewed the following day and said he didn’t remember what happened. “Hearing all the racist abuse made me feel very angry,” said the officer. “Someone so open about being racist, who showed no remorse, it’s something I will never be able to forgive.”
David Mercer, mitigating, said Burgess – who received the news his mother was in hospital suffering from sepsis and was in critical condition while he was on holiday – was ‘highly embarrassed’ and wished to apologise to the officer for his foul language.
“He dashed to the airport, had a few drinks and then had some more on the plane. He hadn’t eaten all day.” Mr Mercer said. Burgess’ mum has since passed away, the court heard.
“He made it worse for himself and he is ashamed of it.” Burgess, of Elizabeth Street, Whitefield, in Bury, was jailed for 24 weeks. He previously admitted entering an aircraft when drunk and racially aggravated harassment.
Sentencing judge Timothy Clayson said: “It is a deeply distressing and terribly frightening experience to be in an aeroplane when somebody, such as you, behaves in a totally aggressive and difficult manner.“