An off-duty British Airways cabin crew employee groped a sleeping business class passenger on a flight to Bangkok after catching the man’s eye, a court heard today.
Paul Speak, 47, is accused of touching the man at least three times before fainting on board the BA plane when the complaint was reported.
The court was told Speak, from Slough, Berkshire, noticed the man and ‘clocked’ him on the long-haul flight.
He then allegedly touched the man on his ‘inner thigh’ which made him shout ‘what the f*** are you doing? Stay away’.
The BA crew member had used his staff points to fly from London Heathrow to Bangkok, Thailand
The passenger also told Isleworth Crown Court that his penis was touched above his clothing but Speak denies one count of sexual assault.
The man recalled being touched three times and told the court: ‘I believe I said: “What the f*** are you doing? Stay away”.
‘The first time was the feeling of a light breeze on my thigh. I felt it again and saw the same guy walking back to his seat. It was a light touch on my thigh, the inner thigh.
‘Something happened again and I caught the hand. It was in the crotch area.
‘He mumbled and stumbled. I saw embarrassment on his face, shocked that he had been caught. I think that he might have been drunk.’
The passenger also told Isleworth Crown Court that his penis was touched above his clothing
Kathy Hirst, prosecuting, said: ‘The complainant, who was travelling alone, noticed another gentleman in a distinctive pink shirt walked down the aisle and ‘clocked’ him.
‘There was eye-contact and he held his gaze.’
She said the the first incident occurred four hours after taking off from Heathrow, with Speak, a BA employee, using his staff points to fly.
Miss Hirst said: ‘On two occasions the complainant says he was touched above clothing on his penis.
‘He was woken by someone running his hand over his thigh area, near his crotch. He raised his eye mask and saw the man in the pink shirt retreating.
‘It happened again forty minutes later. The hand went up towards his waistband and it seemed to be prolonged.
‘He saw the same man in the pink shirt walking up the aisle.’
The passenger was on his way to Bangkok (pictured) when he claims he was inappropriately touched on the flight
The passenger reported Speak to the cabin crew and a member of staff spoke to the defendant.
Miss Hirst added: ‘It was obvious to her he was drunk and she told him a complaint had been made. His eyes rolled and he fainted and fell to the floor.’
Speak, who denies touching the passenger, was questioned by police on his return to the UK.
He disputed the allegations and accepted he was wearing a pink shirt but added he took a sleeping pill and had a few drinks before take off on October 12 last year.
The trial continues.
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