A passenger on-board an Emirates Airline flight rammed cabin crew with the drinks trolley and sexually assaulted a terrified mother.
Tarlok Singh had to be tied up and restrained after he assaulted the stewardesses during the seven-hour journey from Dubai in the United Arab Emirates to London Heathrow Airport. A court heard he then fondled a mother's breasts after trying to yank out the dummy her baby was using at the time.
Singh, 54, had to be tied up and restrained by police who boarded the plane upon its arrival at the capital. He was arrested and charged, and today admitted assaulting two women and a man, failing to obey the lawful commands of a pilot and interfering with an aircraft crew member's duty.
The defendant had denied sexual assault on a female but was convicted at Ealing Magistrates Court today. Singh was not present and, when contacted by his lawyer, said he was in bed ill. Sentencing Singh in his absence, John Stroud-Turp, chairing the bench of magistrates, said: "He approached the complainant (the mother) and attempted to engage her in conversation. His presence was unwelcome and he invaded the complainant's personal space.
"He twice touched her shoulder then moved down to her breast. He was not given permission. She had a child on her lap and was in some degree confined on the aircraft seat unable to move away. This was a sexual assault against a vulnerable victim and therefore we find the defendant guilty."
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The court was told Singh also shouted at passengers, refused to stay seated and disobeyed cabin crew orders during the journey from Dubai on January 19. Emily Timcke, prosecuting today, said: "On 19 January police were called to terminal three at Heathrow in relation to a disruptive passenger.
"Whilst on the flight Mr Singh had been disruptive shouting at passengers, refusing to stay seated and disobeying cabin crew orders despite formal warnings. He was asked to sit down then got up, walking to the rear of the plane and was blocked by cabin crew member Abigail McInnes who was serving from a cart.
"He pushed her in the back twice to get past the cart. The supervisor Ali Turkkan stayed with him trying to get him to sit down and he kicked him in the back of the leg. During the serving of drinks Mr Singh pushed the cart into Isadora Belkessa with some force. Her foot was trapped under the court which caused pain and reddening. Cabin crew restrained him with ties until the aircraft landed and he was arrested."
The sexual assault victim, who cannot be named for legal reasons, was sitting in an economy seat with her young child when she saw Singh staggering up and down the aisle. He approached her leaning over her and began asking why her child had a dummy in it's mouth.
Singh repeatedly asked if he could take the dummy out before trying to pull it out himself. He then rubbed the woman's breast twice, the court heard. Giving evidence in court, the victim said she was sitting with her child in her lap when she saw Singh. She said: "I saw him walking up and down. He was screaming and shouting and running and I saw a few people following him.
"He seemed really drunk and he couldn't stand still. He didn't have any balance, he couldn't stand straight. He was trying to walk and falling down. He was standing on top of me leaning on me." Singh began asking what was in her child's mouth and the child became scared before Singh started taking the dummy out of the mouth.
The woman said: "I was really uncomfortable and really scared because I was alone and knew he was drunk, screaming and shouting. I didn't want him to hit me - I didn't know how he would behave if I asked him to stop. He gripped my shoulder and I started leaning to the side but he didn't loosen the grip."
His hand then moved down to her breast, she said. The mum continued: "I was really uncomfortable and I wanted to cry. Then he started to do it again. I felt really distressed and really scared and was really traumatised. I felt I didn't know if I can still travel alone with as this was my first time travelling alone with my baby."
She said Singh was then dragged away. She added: "He was taken away, I could still hear him shouting and screaming but I don't know where they took him." When they landed Singh was arrested and she spoke to police. Sisira Polpitiya, defending Singh, asked the woman: "I want you to think very carefully.
"He accepts he touched you and that was an assault. But it makes a huge difference to a man's life if this was an assault or a sexual assault. Your words have power huge power, and those words could make a huge difference to a man's life. Do you think he sexually assaulted you or was he just drunk and simply touched you?"
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The woman replied: "He did sexually assault me because I gave no permission and if someone touches your breast without permission it is a sexual assault." After convicting Singh, the magistrates issued a warrant back for bail for Singh's arrest. He will return to Ealing Magistrates Court for sentencing on a date to be fixed.
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