By Lucy Caulkett-
A flight passenger’s aggressive behavior led to the resignation of an air steward, Birmingham Magistrates Court has heard.
Kieran Tabberner, from Paradise Lane, Hall Green , was aggressive towards Flybe air stewardess Robyn Pascoe after being told he couldn’t use the toilet.
Tabberner lost his cool after he saw the air steward using the toilet minutes after take off, and considered her to be hypocritical after she had told recently deprived him of going to the loo because the seatbelt signs had been switched on. He failed to recognise that as an air steward, she has different privileges, and also also a different level of insurance coverage.
Tabberner stands accused of aggressively confronting Miss Pascoe as she left the toilet, demanding to know why she had used the lavatory while he was told he couldn’t.
His aggressive, threatning and abusive behaviour caused the Flybe flight BE107 from Birmingham Airport to Amsterdam on May 26 this year to be diverted back to Birmingham just 10 minutes after take off,(link to Birmingham Mail but remove this : reports the Birmingham Mail. )
The court heard Tabberner’s actions caused Miss Pascoe to resign from her job of seven years due to the impact the incident had on her. It left her suffering from anxiety.
Giving evidence in court Miss Pascoe said she was “terrified” by Tabberner’s actions.
Shetold Magistrates that Tabberner ran onto the plane with three other passengers and was “loud and “rowdy” during the safety briefing and at one point “belly flopped” over the arm rest into the aisle.
The dejected former air steward said an announcement had been made for passengers to put their seat belts on for take off, amd his request to use the toilet came just then, so she refused.
She said:
“He told me he would p*ss on the floor if he wasn’t allowed to go. I said he would have to wait“Shortly after we took off we got a signal from the captain that as cabin crew we could take our seat belts off.
“I went to the toilet but when I came out he was waiting trying to get in. I told him he had to go back to his seat as the seat belt signs were still on but he kept saying ‘you have been to the toilet so why can’t I?’ It was a confined area and he was waving his arms around aggressively and shouting. I felt terrified. I have experienced rowdy behaviour on flights before but nothing like this in seven years.”
CAPTAIN
The court head that the captain took the decision was made to turn the aircraft back and head back to Birmingham.
In court Miss Bennington said she had rushed to Miss Pascoe’s aid after hearing Tabberner being aggressive towards her.
“As she was coming out if the toilet he was trying to get in. He was in her face waving his arms and being very threatening. I have never seen Robyn like this. She is a tough cookie but was very shaken and upset. We decided to tell the captain.”
Giving evidence Tabberner said he had asked Miss Pascoe if he could use the toilet as he got on the plane but was refused.He said:
“I was dying to go to the toilet – I was literally bursting. When I saw her go to the toilet I thought it was OK for me to get up as well and decided to wait outside. I was upset and confused when she came out but I wasn’t aggressive towards her. I went back to my seat. I was shocked when they said the flight was turning back. I turned round and apologized to the other passengers.”
When the plane landed at Birmingham Tabberner and the three passengers he was traveling with were then escorted off the plane by police. He was asked to attend a police station the following day. Tabbiner was found guilty by Jusge Strongman and ordered to pay £500 fine plus £500 court costs and another £500 compensation to Robin Pascoe. Tabberner would have learnt a hard lesson from the court’s judgment. As a man, he should know how to behave towards a woman, and clearly lacked this basic training.
District Judge Mr Ian Strongman found Tabberner guilty.
He said:
“Your actions had a serious financial impact for the company Flybe and a huge impact on Miss Pascoe who gave up her career due to this incident.”
Tabberner was fined £500, told to pay court costs of £500 and ordered to pay Miss Pascoe £500 in compensation plus a £50 court surcharge.