Ryan's Racially Aggravated Assault Conviction Upheld
Blue Frontman Lee Ryan Set for Sentencing as High Court Upholds Racially Aggravated Assault Conviction
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Key Points
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On 31 July 2022, during a Glasgow to London City Airport British Airways flight, Lee Ryan was described as intoxicated, slurring and staggering after being refused more alcohol, and he directed remarks at cabin crew member Leah Gordon, including calling her a 'sweet chocolate chip cookie' and 'chocolate babies,' while grabbing her wrists and leaning in as if to kiss her.
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In a later development, November 2024 saw a High Court/magistrates panel grant Ryan’s appeal over the conviction for threatening a member of aircraft crew, but dismiss the appeal over the assault conviction, altering the earlier outcome on charges related to the same incident.
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Ryan reportedly admitted being drunk on the aircraft during the July 2022 incident, a factor cited in court proceedings alongside the remarks and physical contact.
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Isleworth Crown Court had previously overturned certain aspects of the case while upholding the racially aggravated assault conviction, with the matter later referred back for sentencing following High Court rulings.
Blue singer Lee Ryan has lost a High Court challenge to his conviction for racially aggravated assault on a British Airways flight, according to BBC News. The 43-year-old frontman now faces sentencing after judges dismissed his bid to overturn the ruling stemming from a July 2022 incident on a Glasgow to London City Airport flight.
Ryan had drunk a bottle of port before boarding the flight, Yahoo News reported. Once on board, he was described as intoxicated — slurring and staggering after cabin crew refused him more alcohol.
What Ryan Did on the British Airways Flight
On 31 July 2022, Ryan directed comments at flight attendant Leah Gordon. He called her a "sweet chocolate chip cookie" and "chocolate babies," according to BBC News. He grabbed her wrists and leaned in as if to kiss her. Judges confirmed the remarks were racially aggravated and the physical contact constituted assault.
Ryan admitted being drunk during the incident, a fact cited throughout court proceedings. The flight crew had already cut him off from alcohol before the confrontation with Gordon took place, Yahoo News reported.
A Long Legal Battle Across Multiple Courts
Ryan was first handed a 12-month suspended sentence in 2023 for racially aggravated assault and abusive behaviour toward cabin crew. He then pursued multiple rounds of appeals, dragging the case through Isleworth Crown Court and eventually the High Court, according to BBC News.
Isleworth Crown Court overturned some parts of the original ruling but kept the assault conviction intact. In November 2024, a High Court and magistrates panel dismissed Ryan's appeal over the assault conviction while granting his appeal on a separate charge of threatening aircraft crew, Head Topics reported.
High Court Shuts Down Final Appeal Attempt
Ryan's legal team sought to have the case sent to the High Court for further review. Judges rejected that bid outright. The assault conviction stands, and the High Court's ruling closes off that avenue of challenge, according to BBC News.
The court confirmed the key facts: Ryan was intoxicated, the remarks were directed at Gordon, and he gripped her wrists. Those findings were enough to uphold the racially aggravated assault conviction in full, Yahoo News reported.
Sentencing Now Set to Follow High Court Ruling
With his appeals exhausted, Ryan is now set to be sentenced. The High Court rulings have referred the matter back for a sentencing hearing to determine his punishment, according to BBC News. The original 12-month suspended sentence was tied to the broader 2023 proceedings, and new sentencing will reflect the current conviction.
Ryan rose to fame as a member of pop group Blue in the early 2000s. The band had several UK number one hits. The assault case has overshadowed his public profile for nearly three years since the 2022 flight incident, Yahoo News reported.
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