DRUNKEN passenger Brian Howell slapped a stewardess in an air rage attack, a court heard.

Howell was flying from Gatwick to Spain and when senior stewardess Anne-Marie Dunn tried to calm him, Howell, 58, slapped her arm so hard it sent her reeling backwards.

He pleaded guilty to assault and being drunk on an aircraft and Catherine Davies, prosecuting, told Crawley magistrates Howell had been drinking steadily before and during the Monarch Airlines flight.

Miss Dunn described his behaviour as the worst incident she had experienced in her ten-year flying career.

The attack was reported to police and Howell, from Kings Langley, Hertfordshire, was arrested when he returned to Gatwick.

Paul Moulder, defending, said Howell suffered a debilitating condition of the legs and lower body which had been aggravated by the crampedseating conditions on the charter flight.

He said:" Mr Howell had to constantly move around to keep comfortable and this had annoyed the passenger in front."

He added that Howell, a part-time dry cleaner, was also taking pain-killing tablets and these had worsened the effect of the alcohol.

Howell was committed on bail to Chichester Crown Court for sentencing on June 7.

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