?Air rage? diplomat blames tsunami

[limbo]

?Air rage? diplomat blames tsunami

Published on January 23, 2006 The Nation

 

Britain?s former defence attache to Thailand is currently on trial in London for verbally and physically abusing passengers after going on a drinking binge on a flight home, London?s Daily Telegraph reported over the weekend.

 

Colonel Peter Roberts, 51, behaved in a ?disgusting and derogatory way?, charging up and down the aircraft, making disparaging comments about Thailand, swearing at fellow travellers and threatening to kill anyone who tried to restrain him, the jury was told last week.

 

But when confronted he said: ?Do you know who I am? I?m the head of the British government in Thailand and you are treating me like this.?

 

Even when his behaviour became so wayward and abusive that the crew was forced to handcuff him in his seat, he continued to hit out and swear for about an hour until the aircraft landed and he was arrested by police.

 

Isleworth Crown Court in west London was told that Roberts was travelling to London from Abu Dhabi, in the United Arab Emirates, last February to give a presentation on the tsunami when he became drunk and abusive.

 

He was alleged to have consumed two to three bottles of wine, three whiskies and some port during the seven-hour flight. Passengers and crew told the jury that he became steadily more abusive and drunk until he was completely out of control for the last two hours of the trip.

 

Roberts told the court on Thursday he was suffering from flashbacks and nightmares after witnessing harrowing scenes from the tsunami.

 

Seeing hundreds of bodies and dealing with grieving relatives was the most difficult time of his life and changed him forever, he said

 

Roberts, who denies drunkenness on an aircraft, claims his behaviour was not as a result of drinking wine, whisky and port on the plane but because of taking the anti-depressant Seroxat and the stress over the tsunami.

 

The night before flying to London via Abu Dhabi, Roberts said he stayed up until 5am working on a report for the British ambassador and did not go to bed before catching the plane.

 

He ?accidentally overdosed? on Seroxat because he was confused by time zones. Gareth Rees, QC, prosecuting, claimed his confusion was because of drunkenness.

 

The case continues.

[chuckwoww]

Interesting story that. He said some very rude things on the plane apparently. Wonder if he just got ripped off by his Thai boyfriend?

[Flashermac]

I notice the UK Embassy in Bangkok is very quiet about it ...

[sayjann]

nobody at the Embassy.

they are all in Cathouse enjoying the Chang Beer special..........

[limbo]

Chuck,

 

Read some comments apparently made by him and they made me blush

[chuckwoww]

limbo said:

Chuck,

 

Read some comments apparently made by him and they made me blush

 

We're supposed to believe he was upset because of the Tsunami? Thousands of people went through much worse than he did and they didn't act like assholes on airplanes.

[paul101]

 

Coming from Abu what sit? then he was probably on crappy etihad and not a more expensive direct flight, stingy uk govt. How could he get pissed on etihad? they only come round one time witht the drink trolly. Maybe he was enraged that they showed wallace and gromit on both legs of the journey. They are usually tough on these cases, but I expect he will get off with a slap as he's posh.

[Flashermac]

I'd rather watch Wallace and Gromit than the usual crap they show on airlines ...

 

(Of course, sitting through it a couple of times in a row might have me rooting for the penguin and the mad robot sheep snatcher.)

[limbo]

What a load of croc;

 

 

 

British diplomat found not guilty of drunken mid-air rant

Published on Jan 25 , 2006

 

 

London - A British diplomat accused of going "beserk" on a plane as he returned from dealing with the aftermath of the Asian tsunami disaster was cleared on Tuesday of the sole charge of being drunk on an aircraft.

 

 

Colonel Peter Roberts, the former British defence attache in Thailand, had been on trial for allegedly launching a series of foul-mouthed tirades and threatening to kill passengers and crew at 35,000 feet (10,668 metres).

 

 

The 51-year-old was said to have lost control in business class after drinking wine, port and whisky on an Etihad Airways flight from Abu Dhabi, in the United Arab Emirates, to London Heathrow on February 17 last year.

 

 

Roberts, a father of three, had been involved in trying to identify British victims of the December 26, 2004 tsunami and was travelling to London to brief Ministry of Defence and Foreign Office colleagues on the disaster.

 

 

The former British army helicopter pilot told the jury he had been suffering from stress following the tsunami and had accidentally taken too much of the anti-depressant drug Seroxat, which he had been prescribed.

 

 

He also said he had no recollection of his behaviour on the flight.

 

 

Speaking outside court, Roberts' lawyer, Look Chih Wang, told reporters Roberts was found not guilty because he was not drunk.

 

 

Instead, his behaviour was due to "a temporary abnormality of function caused by long-term chronic stress, tsunami-related post-traumatic stress, sleep deprivation and a combination of the anti-depressant Seroxat and alcohol".

 

 

The diplomat's doctor had advised him he could drink in moderation while taking Seroxat, the lawyer said.

 

 

"Although Colonel Roberts has been acquitted he nevertheless wishes to apologise to all those who were affected by his behaviour and offended by his remarks," Look added.

 

 

"Colonel Roberts would like to state categorically that the alleged remarks in no way are representative of his views or beliefs."

 

 

Agence France Presse

[Flashermac]

Wonder if the Thai press will be reporting his insults to their country, King and religion ...

 

p.s. His lawyer asked for costs, but the judge refused -- saying he knew he shouldn't drink when he was on Seroxat and was thus responsible for what happened.