Blue singer Lee Ryan has submitted an application to reverse his plea for drunkenly assaulting a police officer when he was arrested on a flight from Glasgow.
The 39-year-old was found guilty by magistrates in January of behaving in a threatening or abusive manner towards cabin crew and racially aggravated assault.
During the trial, the court heard Ryan told Leah Gordon, a black flight attendant: “I want your chocolate children”, and had also referred to her as “my chocolate cookie”.
Ms Gordon said she was approached by the singer from behind as he said: “Before I get off this plane I need a kiss from you”.
(Image: PA)
She added that he grabbed both her wrists before passengers on the flight intervened.
Ryan also admitted an offence of being drunk on an aircraft, telling the trial he drank a whole bottle of port in the British Airways lounge before boarding the flight to London City Airport on July 31 last year.
He also admitted assaulting a police officer – though he is now trying to reverse said plea.
A hearing was due to take place at Uxbridge Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday but was rescheduled to next week.
(Image: PA)
Court staff confirmed an application has been made by Ryan’s defence team to vacate the guilty plea for assault of an emergency worker.
The application means Ryan’s sentencing, which was due to take place at the end of February, has been placed on hold.
Video footage of the arrest at the London airport was played at the trial at Ealing Magistrates’ Court, in which an officer could be heard warning Ryan several times to stop trying to bite him.
Luke Bowyer, prosecuting, also said Ryan was “snarling” at the officers.
He was also seen crying on the floor and repeatedly saying “I’ve done nothing wrong”.
(Image: PA)
The vacation of plea hearing is listed for April.
If successful, a new trial to hear evidence about the assault could take place.
At Uxbridge Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday, district judge Deborah Wright said an administrative hearing will take place next week ahead of the full hearing.
Ryan, who was granted unconditional bail after the trial, is not expected to appear at the hearing next week.
For more of the latest showbiz news from Daily Star, make sure you sign up to one of our newsletters here.
Source: Celebrities - dailystar.co.uk
