A couple who engaged in a sex act on a plane in front of other passengers have been convicted of outraging public decency.
Bradley Smith, 22, and Antonia Sullivan, 20, were escorted off an easyJet flight by police on March 3.
The pair, from Rhondda Cynon Taf, Wales, had been returning to Bristol from a holiday in Tenerife, Spain, on a packed 7am flight.
Minutes after take-off, unemployed Smith was heard asking his girlfriend to perform a sex act on him, The Sun reported.
Sullivan, sitting in 16B, began rearranging coats on Smith’s lap, who was by the window in 16A, and obliged, to the shock of fellow passengers.
Their neighbour in 16C later reported the couple to the cabin crew.
‘No regard for the feelings of other passengers’
Prosecutor Maree Doyle told Bristol magistrates’ court: “After a few minutes the witness was aware that the couple had rearranged some coats over Smith’s lap and there followed vigorous hand movements beneath the coats.
“The witness sitting next to them could see what was happening while a mother and teenage daughter sitting behind the couple could also see what was going on.”
Doyle added that the teenager had told her mother she could “see his bits”, prompting the parent to also complain.
Sullivan insisted to flight attendants that she was only rubbing Smith’s leg, but both were escorted from the plane when it reached Bristol by an easyJet manager and police.
The couple pleaded guilty on Thursday to one count of outraging public decency by committing a sexual act in a public place.
Sentencing the couple, Judge Lynne Matthews said: “You had no regard for the feelings of other passengers.
“There was a child sitting behind you who was able to see what was happening.
“Who do you think you are and what right do you think entitled you to behave in that way in full view of people on that flight?”
Smith was ordered to complete 300 hours of community work, while Sullivan, a full-time care worker, received 270 hours.
They were both ordered to pay £100 compensation to each of the three witnesses.
An easyJet spokeswoman said: “We can confirm that this flight to Bristol was met by police on arrival, due to the behaviour of two passengers onboard.”
