Belinda Seery attacked a member of the crew and another passenger during a flight from Gatwick to the Caribbean.

A jury heard that Seery constantly ignored cabin crew by going to the toilet for cigarettes on the non-smoking flight.

She eventually had to be handcuffed and strapped into her seat after lashing out at purser Barbara Fawcett who confiscated her cigarettes.

Seery had denied endangering the aircraft and two charges of common assault.

But it took a jury at Chichester Crown Court less than an hour to convict her after hearing witnesses describe her behaviour during the flight as bizarre and frightening.

Recorder Anthony Niblett jailed Seery for 12 months for endangering the plane with concurrent three month sentences for the two assaults.

He told her: "Your behaviour was selfish, self-centred, offensive and frightening."

The Recorder said passengers and crew were right to describe what took place as a nightmare.

He also told Seery the public had to know that courts would protect airline passengers and air crew.

Seery, from Birmingham, collapsed in the dock of Chichester Crown Court during sentencing but was caught by two prison escorts.

Passenger Gavin Valentine, who found himself seated next to Seery on the flight, had told the court: "She seemed a nice lady."

But after being served a rum and coke Seery told him she was going into the toilets for a cigarette despite knowing it was a non-smoking flight.

When she returned she had become what Mr Valentine described as "a different lady." She could not stop fidgeting and spilt wine being served with a meal over him.

Then as Mr Valentine turned to talk to his sister he was suddenly punched in the face by Seery.

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