Suspended sentence handed to man accused of on-flight assault

A man on a Jet2 flight from Manchester to Tenerife groped a fellow passenger after drinking heavily.

Intoxicated passenger receives suspended sentence for on flight sexual assault

On November 12 2023 a Jet2 flight from Manchester to Tenerife carried 53-year-old Craig Lowe who had consumed about six small bottles of red wine. The court heard he began with crude sexual comments toward a woman seated beside him, asking, Are you going to f*** me then? and then touched her inner thigh. After she moved to the toilet and returned, he touched her thigh again despite her pleas to stop. He then verbally abused another passenger who tried to help after he dropped his phone. As they disembarked and boarded the bus to the terminal, the woman who spoke up asked aloud for someone to remove him.

At Manchester Crown Court Lowe pleaded guilty to entering an aircraft when drunk and sexual assault. The judge noted that while most of the flight was calm, the offender’s behavior as the trip ended caused fear. Lowe, of Tyldesley, was given a 28 weeks prison sentence suspended for 12 months, alongside 150 hours of unpaid work and 20 rehabilitation activity requirement days. He must sign the Sex Offenders Register for seven years. The defendant has since rebuilt his life and abstained from alcohol.

The case highlights how alcohol and cramped cabin space can turn travel into a risky situation for passengers. The victim’s statement emphasizes lasting fear and reduced willingness to travel alone, underscoring the human cost of such misconduct. The lack of CCTV on board, raised in court, points to gaps that can undermine immediate accountability and passenger confidence.

Judicially, the decision to suspend the sentence suggests the court weighed rehabilitation against punishment, a move that can reassure some that change is possible while still signaling serious consequences. For airlines, the verdict adds to calls for clearer policies, better crew training, and improved reporting mechanisms to deter abuse and protect passengers.

Highlights

Flight safety hinges on clear rules, accountable behavior, and real oversight in the air.