Blue singer Lee Ryan has been charged with biting a police officer

[ad_1]

Ryan was told the Crown had dropped the assault charge

Blue singer Lee Ryan has had a charge against him dropped for biting a police officer after boarding a flight while intoxicated.

Appearing at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday, Ryan was told the Crown Prosecution Service had dropped the charge of assault by biting after the boyband member successfully withdrew a guilty plea to the offense last month at following what he described as “bad advice from his lawyer”. .

Standing on the dock, dressed in a blue suit and patterned tie, Ryan, 40, spoke only to confirm his name and date of birth.

The court heard he boarded a British Airways flight from Glasgow to London City Airport on July 31 last year after drinking a bottle of port.

Blue singer Lee Ryan has had a charge against him dropped for assaulting a police officer after boarding a flight while intoxicated. Above: Ryan outside Westminster Magistrates’ Court today

After being refused more alcohol on the plane and told to return to his seat, Ryan commented on attendant Leah Gordon’s appearance, calling her “my chocolate cookie”, before to say that she could have their “chocolate children” and to grab her wrists.

He was found guilty by Ealing Magistrates’ Court in January of racially aggravated simple assault by beating and behaving abusively towards the cabin crew member.

He had previously pleaded guilty to being drunk on a plane.

Addressing the court on Wednesday, District Judge Tan Ikram said: “Drunkenness is as serious as the charges he was convicted of.”

He told Ryan’s defense attorney, Keima Payton: “The member of the plane felt that your client was intoxicated.”

The judge said this provided the backdrop for the offences, with the three charges being “intertwined”.

Ryan will be sentenced at Isleworth Crown Court on a date to be confirmed.

The court news comes after Ryan was allegedly assaulted on a flight to Turkey earlier this month.

The court heard he boarded a British Airways flight from Glasgow to London City Airport on July 31 last year after drinking a bottle of port. Above: Ryan arriving at Westminster Magistrates’ Court with his mother Sheila today

Ryan claimed he injured his leg after he was allegedly pushed down a flight of stairs by a male passenger during their flight.

Blue took to Instagram to share a joint statement about the alleged incident, which they say happened on a Turkish Airlines flight from Georgia to Istanbul.

It has been claimed that Lee’s teammates Simon Webbe, Duncan James and Antony Costa all rushed to his aid amid the alleged attack.

They wrote: “While on a flight from Georgia to Istanbul, Turkey with Turkish Airlines today (Saturday July 8, 2023), Lee Ryan was physically assaulted by a male passenger.

‘Lee and the rest of the group defended him from the attack, which continued after the plane landed when the passenger pushed Lee down a flight of stairs, injuring his leg.

“Both parties were contacted by police in Turkey and to whom Lee voluntarily gave a victim impact statement supported by the group.”

The group told how the alleged attack happened because Lee put his feet on the seat in what was considered a “culturally insensitive” action, which he was unaware of.

The statement continued: “Lee was at no time arrested, detained or charged with any offense and after giving his statement he was free to continue his journey.

“The assault occurred after Lee put his feet on the seat which was considered culturally insensitive and for which Lee apologized for any unconscious offense caused.”

[ad_2]