Smoking in plane toilet costs passenger £3200
27.07.07
A not-so-crafty smoke in an aircraft toilet cost a passenger £3,200 yesterday. Martin Rose, 36, was on a flight from Spain to Robin Hood Airport when he was spotted walking down the aisle of a Ryanair Boeing 737 jet with a cigarette and a lighter in his hand, a court heard. He locked himself in the toilet and lit the cigarette before being caught red-handed by a stewardess.
Despite his denials, Mr. Rose was arrested when the Ryanair flight from Girona touched down at Robin Hood Airport on November 9. Yesterday, he was fined the maximum penalty of £2500 by the town's magistrates, who also ordered that he should pay £700 costs.
The court was told Mr. Rose was warned not to smoke when he was spotted walking to the toilet with a cigarette and a lighter. He went inside and the captain and a passenger could then smell smoke.
Justin Bullas, prosecuting, said: 'The air hostess knocked on the door and when it was opened there was a cloud of smoke coming out of the cubicle. It was searched and the smoke alarm was found to be covered up with a napkin, and ash was found in the sink.'
Mr. Rose did not attend the hearing court but it was agreed the case should go ahead because Spanish stewardesses Alexandra Sais and Marjo Vallamo had flown 900 miles to give evidence. A spokesman for the airline said: 'Ryanair will always press charges against any passenger who attempts to put the safety of our passengers and aircraft at risk.'
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