Man threatened to strangle and smother other passengers on British Airways flight

A man threatened to strangle and smother other passengers during a furious rant while on board a British Airways flight. Simon Jones, 51, has now been banned from leaving Britain following the angry outburst on May 23.

He was flying from Los Angeles to London Heathrow when he was refused a drink by the cabin crew. Uxbridge Magistrates' Court was then told he shouted: "Can I have a f*****g glass? Get me a f*****g glass for me. Give me a f*****g drink." The graphic designer then got up to go to the toilet and was "shouting and swearing at the passenger next to him".

As reported by GB News, Ashleigh Ettienne, prosecuting, said Jones "became louder and louder" and when a fellow passenger asked him "not to swear and to be mindful of other passengers".

As Jones, who had been living in Los Angeles for 20 years, stood up to go to the toilet, his pillow touched the passenger next to him. He told him: "If you do that again I will put that into your f*****g face."

Ms Ettienne added: "The captain ordered that Mr Jones is not to be given any more alcohol. Mr Jones had become irate, gritting his teeth... pacing up and down the cabin."

The passenger sat next to Jones, who claimed he started "talking very loudly" and "clapping" during the pre-flight checks, requested to move seats. The 51-year-old continued to shout at other passengers and argued with crew members during the 10-hour flight.

The captain eventually ordered for him to be restrained "onto his seat using handcuffs". Jones then shouted: "Oi blonde boy loosen them cuffs or I'll wrap them around your neck. What the f**k are you looking (at)? What the f**k is your problem?"

He was arrested immediately after the plane landed at Heathrow. Gurbinder Tamana, defending, said that Jones "does suffer from bipolar" and that this behaviour was "really completely out of character".

She added: "During that time in his life he was having a difficult time... he states he wasn't taking his medication as he should have. He has new medication that has been prescribed now. He's working now as well and that's in a bar."

Jones previously admitted using threatening, abusive or insulting words towards a member of the crew of the aircraft, behaving in a threatening, abusive and insulting or disorderly manner towards a member of the crew of the aircraft. He also admitted intentionally interfering with the performance by a member of the crew of the aircraft of the crew member's duties and using threatening, abusive or insulting words or behaviour to cause harassment, alarm or distress.

Judge Kathryn Verghis banned Jones from international travel for six months. He was also sentenced to a community order for 12 months, ordered to complete 150 hours of unpaid work and 20 rehabilitation activity requirement days.

The judge added: "The incident in itself was sustained from the very start of the flight... your behaviour towards a fellow passenger was completely unacceptable."