Boozed-up Jet2 passenger who yelled ‘what’s it take to get a f***ing drink?’ through cabin crew intercom jailed
Matthew Worrall, 28, slammed by judge at Manchester crown court for 'deliberate' behaviour on flight to Tenerife last year
A BOOZED-up Brit tourist who tried to get a drink on board a passenger jet by radioing through to the cockpit as the plane came in to land was jailed for seven months today.
While the Jet2 flight crew were preparing to descend from 30,000ft, Matthew Worrall, 28, grabbed hold of the in-flight intercom system.
He asked the pilot: ''Why is it taking so long? I want a f**king drink, what does it take to get a f**king drink in this place?"
As a result the plane’s captain Tim Griffiths was forced to leave his co-pilot in charge of the Boeing 757 from Manchester to Tenerife while he left the flight deck to confront Worrall as he was returning to his seat.
When he asked Worrall for his passport, the £33,000-a-year Network Rail linesman – who claims to be pals with Corrie actress Brooke Vincent and two Towie girls – began showing off to his friends.
He said sarcastically: ''It's in the overhead locker and I can't get it – because the seatbelt signs are on.''
Spanish cops were called to Tenerife Sur airport as the aircraft touched down.
It was also claimed Worrall – who was on a lads' holiday – had earlier been trying to flirt with one of the female cabin crew as she carried out safety checks on the aircraft.
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Although staff had limited the amount of alcohol served during the journey, Worrall continued asking for more booze and was "constantly pressing the bell".
At Manchester crown court, Worrall – who lives with his parents in Wistaston, Crewe, Cheshire – was condemned by a judge after he admitted intentionally interfering with the performance of aircraft crew member's duty.
The incident occurred last August during a four-and-a-half hour flight to the Canary Islands.
Prosecutor Gavin Howie said: "The defendant booked the flight with a number of friends and work colleagues for a short holiday and the phrase 'lads holiday' is used.
''The party got on to the aircraft and were loud whilst boarding but didn't appear to be drunk and were not being abusive.
''Mr Worrall took seat 33F towards the rear of the aircraft close to a fold up seat and emergency equipment, a toilet and phone were also nearby to be used by the staff to communicate with themselves and the flight deck.
"The seating of passengers was carried out and there is a suggestion Mr Worrall was not paying a great deal of attention to that.
''Sarah Jones, one of the stewardesses, suggested Mr Worrall had been openly flirting with her in a mildly inappropriate manner and a decision was taken to monitor him and he did make a couple of requests for alcohol.''
Howie said Worrall was described as being ''loud, confident and possibly cocky'' as he showed off in front of his pals on the plane, demanding more drinks from the reluctant crew.
He continued: "With about 20 minutes from landing captain Tim Griffiths said someone had picked up the interphone.
''The captain says he was following various instructions from air traffic control in Tenerife, preparing the aircraft for the safe landing.
''He heard the phone, thinking it would be other staff members.
''But he says he heard 'Why is it taking so long?', 'I want a f**king drink' and 'What do you have to do to get a f**king drink around here?'
"He was severely distracted. The captain identified the system and says it's set up so he can identify problems arising at an early stage on the plane.
''He contacted the senior stewardess and asked who made the transmission and they were able to identify this defendant.
"She was asked to obtain his passport and he refused. The captain said he would speak to the passenger on landing. He may have missed vital radio transmissions from the crew.
"It was also reported that the defendant would not speak to the captain. The captain decided to leave the seatbelt signs on causing delay for other passengers whilst he went to speak to him.
"There was an exchange and they asked him for his passport and he said it was in his locker above his head and he wouldn’t get it because the seatbelt signs were on.
''This was further to show his attitude.
''The captain gave him permission to get it and he still refused.
"He asked staff to detain Mr Worrall while he contacted Spanish police.
''Due to a language barrier, they were not quite aware of what was being asked of them and Mr Worrall walked past and joined his friends on the air bridge and spoke to the officers.
''He was clearly allowed into the airport and allowed to continue with his holiday.
"Mr Worrall accepted that he had picked up the phone but didn't mean to.
''It's impossible to do it by accident because of the nature of the phone.''
Worrall has since written to Jet2 apologising for his ''foolish behaviour''.
The court was told the defendant was described as a ''responsible, trustworthy employee'' at Network Rail and had volunteered as a coach at Crewe Alexandra football club.
Defence lawyer Daniel Brooks denied his client was drunk at the time of the outburst.
But he said: "He's asked me to repeat the apologies and there can be no doubt that he now appreciates both the foolishness and also the gravity of his behaviour on that flight. His remorse is genuinely felt.
"It was spectacular foolishness but was not malicious behaviour.
"He gave no thought when he picked up that interphone.
"There has been reference of showing off, there would be an element of that but he's not given any thought about what he's done.
"He does not recall using the f word.
''Had he given his passport he probably would not be in this position he finds himself now - but the reason he didn't do it was because he was terrified of what was going to happen. At no point did anyone tell him why they were asking for it.
''He's a young man liked and respected by his peers and a hardworking young man.
"He's managed to buy himself a property which he's renovating whilst living with his parents and through this moment of madness he's gone and put all of that at risk.
"Prison would have a devastating effect on him and his job, he might also lose his property.
"He's a young man that has learned his lesson.
"He feels ashamed and embarrassed.''
But Judge Martin Steiger QC sentenced Worrall to seven months behind bars, telling him: ''You deliberately acted in a manner likely to interfere with staff on board the flight.
''It's clear from the evidence you had been drinking and throughout the flight craved more.
''At a crucial moment – at a time when that must have been obvious, and the seatbelt light was on – you got up and used the intercom system, disturbing those in the flight deck.
"This was deliberate and intentional, it cannot possibly be said to be a moment of madness.
''Indeed when the pilot set out to identify you from your passport, you refused.
''In my judgement this is a case where a deterrent sentence is called for.''
The trial comes as a drunken yob who wrestled cabin crew after stealing a bottle of champagne on a flight back from Ibiza was jailed.
A female passenger was recently filmed yelling 'do you think it's f***ing funny' at other travellers as her partner was escorted from a flight by cops.
While a drunken mum with a baby and a lad aged two were kicked off a British Airways flight last month after she demanded more alcohol.
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