Drunk British Airways passenger stroked bare leg of woman sitting next to him with his foot and elbow forcing her to go and hide in toilet, court hears
- Amerjit Singh Cheema, 43, boarded BA flight from Mumbai to London in January
- He allegedly stroked a woman’s leg with his barefoot ahead of boarding a plane
- Prosecutors said he carried on harassing the woman who hid in toilet in the air
Pictured: Amerjit Singh Cheema, who allegedly stroked a woman’s leg with his bare foot on a BA flight from Mumbai to London
A British Airways passenger was forced to hide in an aircraft toilet after the man sitting next to her drunkenly stroked her bare leg with his foot, a court heard.
Amerjit Singh Cheema, 43, allegedly boarded BA flight 198 from Mumbai to London Heathrow on January 22 after ‘encountering’ a woman at the Indian airport.
Prosecutors claim he stroked the woman’s leg with his bare foot before boarding the intercontinental flight, and carried on harassing her in the air.
Cheema, who ended up sitting next to the alleged victim, is said to have stroked the woman’s hand, winked and poked his tongue out at her.
The woman felt ‘vulnerable’ and ‘trapped’ in the aircraft and got up to hide in the toilet, Ealing Magistrates’ Court heard.
But as she crossed the aisle, drunken Cheema allegedly leaned out and stroked her again with his foot and elbow, it was said.
Arlene De Silva, prosecuting, said: ‘In relation to the sexual assault matter the defendant is said to have stroked the hand of the female that was sitting next to him.
‘This happened because of a prior encounter at the airport, where they first encountered, where he stroked her leg with his bare foot.
‘Once on the aircraft he winked at her and stuck out his tongue at her.
Cheema, 43, allegedly boarded BA flight 198 from Mumbai to London Heathrow on January 22 after ‘encountering’ a woman at the Indian airport. Pictured: Another British Airways flight in Mumbai
‘Then when she was going to the toilet he stuck out his elbow and his foot and touched her again.
‘She felt vulnerable in a place where you’re trapped and you can’t get away.’
Ms De Silva said Cheema was ‘disruptive’ while on board and began parading down the aisle repeatedly with a large rucksack on his back.
She said: ‘This happened together while being drunk and being very disruptive on the aircraft, he was walking up and down the aisle with a rucksack on disturbing passengers.
‘He was making derogatory comments towards cabin crew, the crew talked about smelling alcohol in his breath.’
Cheema pleaded not guilty to all allegations and told the magistrates’ he wanted a crown court trial – despite being advised a magistrates’ trial would be suitable.
The woman felt ‘vulnerable’ and ‘trapped’ in the aircraft and got up to hide in the toilet, Ealing Magistrates’ Court (pictured) heard
Bench Chair Tony Delliston told him: ‘You are granted unconditional bail, and you are to appear at Isleworth Crown Court on 16 September at 2pm for your first hearing.
‘If you do not go back to court at that date and time you could be committing a further offence and your sentence could be greater.’
Cheema, from Leicester, denies two counts of sexual assault on a female.
He also denies behaving in threatening, abusive, insulting or disorderly manner towards a member of the aircraft crew, and entering an aircraft when drunk.
He was bailed ahead of his appearance at Isleworth Crown Court on September 16.