This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/england/7018222.stm

The article has changed 4 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 2 Version 3
Air rage smoker jailed for attack Air rage smoker jailed for attack
(41 minutes later)
A 53-year-old man who terrified fellow passengers on board a holiday flight and assaulted an air steward has been jailed for 12 months.A 53-year-old man who terrified fellow passengers on board a holiday flight and assaulted an air steward has been jailed for 12 months.
Stephen Robinson clambered over seats to hit his victim after being told to put out a cigarette on the Thomas Cook Turkey to Newcastle flight in March.Stephen Robinson clambered over seats to hit his victim after being told to put out a cigarette on the Thomas Cook Turkey to Newcastle flight in March.
He admitted endangering the safety of the aircraft and causing actual bodily harm, at Newcastle Crown Court. At Newcastle Crown Court he admitted endangering the safety of the aircraft and causing actual bodily harm.
Robinson of Hope Town Lane, Darlington, forced the plane to be diverted.Robinson of Hope Town Lane, Darlington, forced the plane to be diverted.
Terrified people You terrified the people who were about you Brian Forster QC
The hearing on Friday heard how Robinson clambered over other passengers in his row of seats.The hearing on Friday heard how Robinson clambered over other passengers in his row of seats.
In the melee an airline steward was hit in the face and his teeth were damaged. In the melee that followed airline steward Philip Miles was hit in the face causing damage to eight of his teeth, the court heard.
The busy Boeing 757, from Antalya to Newcastle, was diverted to Frankfurt, where Robinson was removed from the aeroplane. The busy Boeing 757, from Antalya to Newcastle, was diverted to Frankfurt in Germany where Robinson was removed.
Recorder Brian Forster QC said: "You terrified the people who were about you and you made the life of the aircraft crew very difficult."Recorder Brian Forster QC said: "You terrified the people who were about you and you made the life of the aircraft crew very difficult."
Flying blacklist
In a report on the incident one passenger said: "I have never witnessed any behaviour like this before when I have flown and I hope I will never see it again."
Tim Parkin, prosecuting, said Robinson offered the guilty plea on the basis that he admitted endangering other passengers but not the aircraft.
The court heard how Robinson became aggressive after trying to use a House of Fraser store card to buy drinks.
Cabin crew needed the help of passengers to restrain Robinson after the attack and held him down before he could be handcuffed.
Kristian Mills, defending, said Robinson had no money and was forced to eat leftovers from canteens as he roamed around the German airport for two days.
He eventually asked a charity to fund his flight home as nobody in the UK was willing to act as a guarantor.
The court was told that the judge had no power to ban Robinson from flying again, but that he had been blacklisted by Thomas Cook.