A man on an easyJet flight to his honeymoon who hit cabin crew and made homophobic slurs has been jailed.
Michael Cunnett, 38, of Epsom, Surrey, boarded a flight from London Gatwick to Egypt with his new wife in February this year after reportedly drinking four pints of lager.
After being asked to stop using his e-cigarette, Cunnett became aggressive, used homophobic slurs and punched one of the cabin crew in the face. When another member of staff attempted to intervene, he also suffered a punch to the face.
His wife was reported to have cried out: “’Look at what you’ve done, you have f***** our honeymoon.”
The aggravated Cunnett was subsequently escorted from the aircraft, which had yet to depart, where he was arrested by police.
Sussex Police confirmed that Cunnett repeatedly kicked the police van en route to custody. He caused damage, which resulted in further charges being brought against him.
Cunnett appeared at Lewes Crown Court on 2 April where he was jailed for seven months for interfering with aircrew. He was also ordered to pay £500 compensation to each of the easyJet employees, but faced no separate penalty for criminal damage.
EasyJet flight attendant Christopher Bogley told the court: “He didn’t know my sexuality, but I am a gay man and proud of it.
“If he travels again, my hope is that he will treat people with respect and acknowledge that he lives in a diverse society which is something that should be embraced, not ridiculed.”
Judge David Rennie said: “It was like a child having a tantrum. You chose to drink four pints and to behave in a foul-mouthed, highly abusive manner. Something of your true character did reveal itself.”
“An attack on the perceived sexuality of these men was utterly shameful. People like you find yourself on the edge of society.
“Only an immediate custodial sentence can be justified.”
