Blue singer given suspended prison sentence for racial assault of BA flight attendant

Blue singer Lee Ryan has been given a suspended prison sentence for racial assault of a British Airways flight attendant.

Ryan, 40, was sentenced at Isleworth Crown Court for racially aggravated common assault by beating and behaving in an abusive way towards a cabin crew member.

He was “slurring his words and staggering around” after drinking a bottle of port before a British Airways flight from Glasgow to London City Airport on 31 July last year, a court heard.

He had earlier pleaded guilty to being drunk on an aircraft, for which he was handed a four-month jail term to run concurrently.

As he sentenced him at Isleworth Crown Court, Judge Nicholas Wood said while the incident only lasted 10 or 15 minutes: “It seemed like a lifetime for everybody on that plane.”

He was found guilty earlier this year of racially aggravated assault after telling a black flight attendant “I want your chocolate children” while drunk on a plane.

Earlier this year, a court was told after being refused more alcohol on the plane and told to return to his seat, Ryan made comments about Leah Gordon’s looks, calling her a “chocolate cookie” before grabbing her wrists.

Ryan was found guilty at Ealing Magistrates’ Court in January of being drunk on an aircraft, assaulting a police officer by biting him, racially aggravated common assault by beating and behaving in an abusive way towards the cabin crew member.

(This story is being updated)