Stephen McClatchey, 33, was found guilty of groping a woman during an alcohol-fuelled incident on a flight from London to Belfast
A man who sexually assaulted a woman seated next to him on a flight to Belfast has narrowly escaped jail time.
Stephen McClatchey, 33, was handed a 10-month probation order for groping the victim in an incident fuelled by alcohol. The judge at Belfast Magistrates’ Court labelled his actions as “outrageous” and “nasty”. McClatchey, from Killyglen Road in Larne, Co Antrim, confessed to committing the sexual assault on September 13, 2024.
The court was informed that he became loud and disruptive after consuming alcohol on the flight from London to Belfast City Airport. Cabin crew declined to serve him more alcohol as his behaviour towards fellow passengers grew increasingly inappropriate. McClatchey, a frequent flyer due to his work commitments in England, then targeted the unsuspecting woman seated next to him, reports Belfast Live.
“The female passenger reported that the defendant, without permission, took hold of her breast in his hand and squeezed it,” a prosecution lawyer stated. She was so traumatised that she stayed in her seat until he had left the plane after landing in Belfast.
Police were notified, but McClatchey had already departed the airport before officers could arrive. During subsequent interviews, he initially alleged that the victim fabricated the story because he wasn’t interested in her, the court was told. Defence counsel Paul Burns said his client has little recollection of the alcohol-induced incident and has since quit drinking.
“It was totally out of character and he is deeply remorseful, ” the barrister submitted. “He flies all the time and there has never been any incident before or after this.”
Deputy District Judge Liam McStay expressed scepticism over McClatchey’s initial account of the incident. “He didn’t have any difficulty in telling police she was trying to come on to him,” Mr McStay remarked.
The judge also deemed the offence severe enough to potentially merit a custodial sentence. “It is outrageous to hear, everybody in this court can imagine either being on holiday or a trip that gets disrupted by somebody behaving like this,” he stated.
“This is probably the worst possible, most nasty way you can imagine that happening.” However, considering the defendant’s previously unblemished record and recommendations, Mr McStay handed down a 10-month probation order.
As part of his sentence, McClatchey is required to participate in 20 days of rehabilitation activities and undergo 100 days of alcohol abstinence monitoring. He was also ordered to pay £500 in compensation to the victim.
