Portadown man admits airplane assault

A judge has told a Portadown man his 'strong advice' was to co-operate with probation after he admitted an 'appalling' incident on a plane.
Jay Woolsey was released on continuing bail after admitting the offencesJay Woolsey was released on continuing bail after admitting the offences
Jay Woolsey was released on continuing bail after admitting the offences

Jay Woolsey had been due to go on trial at Antrim Magistrates’ Court accused of common assault against a man and failing to obey the lawful command of an aircraft commander, but his solicitor said the 25-year-old is now pleading guilty to both matters.

During a previous hearing at the same court, furniture builder Woolsey, from Brownstown Park in Portadown, pleaded guilty to using disorderly behaviour at Belfast International Airport, one count of common assault on a woman, being drunk on a plane and “behaving in a disorderly manner towards a member of the crew,” all of which occurred on November 27 last year.

Although no facts of the case have been opened in court, it is understood the charges arose after police were called on to the flight to Bristol before it took off.

At court on Tuesday, Woolsey’s defence solicitor revealed “the spit is accepted” but did not disclose the circumstances of how or at whom Woolsey spat.

Adjourning passing sentence for five weeks for a pre-sentence probation report and releasing Woolsey on continuing bail in the meantime, District Judge Alan White told him: “Your behaviour in this occasion was appalling and my strong advice to you is to co-operate fully with probation.”

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