Blue singer Lee Ryan arrives at court where he faces jail for racially abusing BA cabin crew while drunk on flight
LEE Ryan has arrived at court where he faces jail for racially abusing a black flight attendant in a drunken plane attack.
The Blue star, 39, sunk half a bottle of port and tucked into cheese in the BA lounge before boarding the flight at Glasgow.
Ryan has arrived at Isleworth Crown Court where he is due to be sentenced for racially aggravated common assault by beating, which carries a maximum seven-year jail term.
The singer was also convicted of behaving in an abusive way towards the cabin crew member and admitted being drunk on an aircraft.
A charge of assaulting a police officer was dropped after Ryan claimed he was “made to” plead guilty by his lawyer.
Ryan left cabin crew worker Leah Gordon in tears after calling her a racial slur during the drunken plane attack.
The court was told called her “beautiful” before grabbing her wrists and commenting on her “complexion”.
Ms Gordon said: “It felt like he was saying I was beautiful for a black person because of the way he was describing my colour.”
He was also “slurring his words and staggering around” as he asked: “Do you know who I am?”
Ryan claimed in his evidence he had no recollection of the flight other than “annoying” a passenger next to him.
He said his actions were “playful” and denied being racist.
The singer added: “I’m sorry.
“My band member is black, I’m not racist, I’ve had black girlfriends, mixed-race girlfriends.
“It was banter, just drunk banter I suppose, there was no malice or intention to upset anyone.”
Ryan was arrested at London City Airport by armed cops following the attack on July 31 last year and spent the night in the cells.
He later told police he would give Ms Gordon Blue tickets for their next tour as an apology.
Ryan formed boy band Blue in 2000 with Antony Costa, Duncan James and Simon Webbe.
They have since sold 14million records and had three Number 1 albums.
Their biggest hits include songs All Rise, Too Close, One Love and U Make Me Wanna.
Blue recently went on a 20th anniversary tour and released a new album, Heart & Soul.