A married businessman faces a likely prison sentence after a drunken mid-air rampage on a British Airways flight, during which he sexually assaulted a male flight attendant and assaulted his wife.
Chaos Over the Atlantic
The incident occurred on June 25 last year aboard a BA flight from the Bahamas to London Heathrow. Philip Gould, 64, from Woking, Surrey, had been consuming vodka and wine. Approximately three hours into the journey, cabin crew noted he appeared intoxicated.
His behaviour quickly escalated. Gould approached the cockpit door, began banging on it and started shouting at crew, the captain, and passengers. Staff, deeming this a serious safety risk, positioned themselves between him and the flight deck.
Assaults on Crew and Wife
Gould responded by pushing a crew member in the chest, causing him to stumble into a passenger. After being told to calm down, he became more aggressive, screaming at cabin crew: 'I'll kill you - there are not enough people on the plane to restrain me'.
He then turned on his wife, slapping her and grabbing her by the hair. When a female flight attendant tried to intervene, Gould verbally abused her before standing up and putting his arms around her.
It was during this altercation that he kissed a male flight attendant on the right cheek and nibbled his ear, an act which formed the basis of the sexual assault charge.
Court Warning and Possible Sentence
At Isleworth Crown Court, prosecutor Ashleigh Ettienne outlined the frightening sequence of events. Gould had earlier pleaded guilty to sexual assault on a male, being drunk in an aircraft, two counts of assault by beating, and recklessly acting in a manner likely to endanger an aircraft.
Judge Fiona Barrie adjourned sentencing until February 11 but issued a stark warning. 'This court takes a very dim view of people who behave drunk on an aircraft', she stated. 'A prison sentence is a likely possibility here.'
Gould, who was the director of a consultancy called Blacklight Management with his wife, claimed the mix of alcohol 'had sent him over the edge'. His defence counsel, Manny Arora, said his client suffers from PTSD and is remorseful.
Gould was granted unconditional bail but now awaits his fate next month, with custody a strong probability for his dangerous and abusive conduct at 30,000 feet.
