'Loutish' Bolton drunk who caused havoc on mid-air flight wins prison appeal

Daniel Keigher, 32, and his friend Daniel Naylor, 29, were flying back to Manchester Airport on the evening of September 20 last year, after a short holiday in Poland.

The pair became abusive towards crew on the Jet2 flight who had decided to only serve customers one alcoholic drink each during the flight.

Keigher, of Turner Bridge Road, Tonge Moor, demanded a coffee and a brandy, but when he was only brought the coffee, he became "aggressive" and shouted "f*** off" on at least two occasions.

Keigher, 33, threatened staff when asked for his passport and when Naylor, of Wasdale Avenue, Bolton, was asked for his details for a report, he refused before bear hugging a member of the cabin crew.

Both men were arrested upon arriving at Manchester Airport and later pleaded guilty to being drunk on an aircraft.

In December last year, Keigher and Naylor were jailed for 18 weeks at Manchester Magistrates' Court with District Judge Bernard Begley criticising their "loutish behaviour".

But now following an appeal hearing, Keigher, a self-employed joiner, will be released from prison following a decision to suspend his sentence.

"You had been binge drinking in Poland and you were intoxicated when you boarded that aeroplane," said Recorder Michael Blakey at the appeal hearing held at Manchester Minshull Street Crown Court.

"But I note that you express remorse for what you did and what you subjected the cabin crew to as well as the pilot and the passengers.

"We have all been on aircraft when we've heard some thug shouting his mouth off and it is exceptionally unpleasant as well as dangerous and it cannot be accepted."

Recorder Blakey said that Keigher's past offending behaviour was linked to alcohol with 11 previous convictions for 14 offences including common assault and wounding.

Despite this, he was persuaded that Keigher's partner, who is expecting their second child, had brought a "positive impact" into his life as there had been no previous offending since 2014.

"You seemed to have turned the corner and this was a setback for you and your children," said Recorder Blakey. "Your partner is undergoing a very difficult and traumatic pregnancy and there was a danger at one stage that the child may not survive.

"You have served three weeks in custody and the impact of a custodial sentence on prisons during the pandemic is clear and you have had a taste of that because you have spent three weeks in isolation.

"There are risks associated with where you are and going home and having considered the whole case in the round we believe there is strong personal mitigation.

"In those circumstances we are prepared to suspend the period of imprisonment."

Recorder Blakey reduced the sentence to one of three months imprisonment suspended for six months and ordered Keigher to attend 20 days of a rehabilitation activity programme and complete 40 hours of unpaid work.

"This will hopefully assist you and your family to get back on track," he added. "You must limit your drink to what you can take."