Passenger on Dublin flight in court for sexual assault of air steward

A passenger molested an air steward on a flight from Dublin to London, a UK court heard on Monday.

Artur Niewolik (37) was on board the Dublin to Gatwick flight when he allegedly grabbed the attendant’s waist from behind and then whispered “nice legs” as she served drinks from her trolley.

When she repeatedly ordered him to move back, the Polish national went on to accuse the black cabin crew member of being “racist”, the court heard.

Mr Niewolik is on trial at the Old Bailey in London charged with sexual assault, an alternative charge of assault by beating, and being drunk on the flight during the afternoon of March 30th last year.

Prosecutor Charles MacDonald told jurors he may have acted more out of “mockery or showing off” than sexual gratification when he assaulted the woman in her 30s as she passed through the plane with a younger colleague.

The victim first noticed Mr Niewolik when he wanted to use the toilet while the fasten seat belt lights were still on, he said.

A few minutes into the hour-long flight, he allegedly came up behind her as she served drinks and said he still needed the toilet in an “aggressive” manner.

She pointed out it was dangerous to move around while the lights were still on and she suspected he had been drinking as she smelt alcohol on his breath, the prosecutor said.

‘Inappropriate behaviour’

She noticed him standing very close behind her as he touched the sides of her waist and whispered “nice legs”, said Mr MacDonald.

He told jurors: “The Crown say it is inappropriate behaviour and humiliation that no one should have to suffer, especially while at work in a hazardous environment. It upset her as you might expect.”

The defendant invaded her personal space again and produced a mobile phone to film her while suggesting she was racist, the court heard.

At this point she referred the situation to a manager to deal with, said Mr MacDonald.

After he was detained by police at Gatwick, he denied being drunk but admitted touching the stewardess on the waist to get her to move so he could get past.

He said he felt “mistreated and humiliated” himself, the court heard.

Irish passenger Sophia Lamb told jurors she first saw him at the departure gate when he went up to a couple who were also waiting for the delayed flight and commented to the man: “Nice wife.”

Ms Lamb told jurors she regarded his behaviour as “offensive and sexist” as if he were referring to the woman as a piece of property like a coat or a pair of shoes.

She saw the “rude and disrespectful” passenger again when a member of cabin crew called out “don’t touch me” as she served drinks on the flight.

When told several times to “move back”, he became “disrespectful and indignant”, said the witness.

Ms Lamb told jurors that she assumed he had been drinking from his behaviour.

She went on to praise the air stewardess, saying: “I was quite surprised at how professional she was; she was assertive and calm.

“She did not become very upset or angry but she was very firm and kept control of the situation.

“If she had not been so in control herself, it might have escalated. I thought she was very courageous and calm.”

The court was shown amateur video of the defendant and another passenger he befriended on the flight being arrested at Gatwick airport.

The arresting officer, former police constable Jonathan Cruise, told jurors: “They were both clearly drunk in my experience – not just as a police officer.”

The defendant, of Weavers Close, Isleworth , west London, denies the charges and the trial continues.

PA