A cocky Netflix reality show star abused cabin crew who asked him and his travel companions to quieten down during a flight.
Matthew Mawhinney, 29, of Mayfair, Westminster, admitted being a person on board an aircraft failing to obey the lawful commands of a pilot when he appeared at Uxbridge Magistrates' Court on Friday, 30th April 2021.
This is an offence under article 244 of the Air Navigation Order 2016, which has a maximum penalty of a fine at level 4 on summary conviction.
He also admitted a charge of using threatening, abusive or insulting words or behaviour.
This is an offence under section 4A of the Public Order Act 1986, which has a maximum penalty of 6 months' custody and/or a fine at level 5 on summary conviction.
The court heard that Mawhinney, who is the son of former Attorney General, Baroness Scotland of Asthal, became rowdy during a flight back to London Heathrow on 7th February 2021.
He was returning home after filming in the Caribbean for the second series of dating show "Too Hot To Handle", and was accompanied by fellow contestants Harry Johnson, 28, and Beaux Greenslade, 23, who also admitted both offences today.
Cabin crew approached the trio and asked Johnson and Greenslade to tone it down after they were seen "kissing and behaving intimately" in their seats.
They were repeatedly asked to put their face masks on, but refused to do so. The captain of the aircraft issued each of them with a written warning and decided they would not be served any more alcohol.
Prosecutor Christelle McCracken told the court that British Airways stewardesses Heather Wenn and Sophie Griffiths had been the target of most of the abuse.
When Ms Wenn told Mawhinney that he could not have any more alcoholic drinks he told her: "Go and fucking look up who my Mum is - Baroness Scotland.
"I'm a gold card holder - go and get me a drink."
He screwed up the written warning he had received from the captain and proceeded to leave his seat and perform press ups in the aisle, despite being instructed to remain in his seat by crew members.
Greenslade, a legal secretary, also became abusive.
She told cabin crew: "Take my tray away. Don't you know I'm a fucking secretary? I will take your job away from you."
When another passenger asked Greenslade to stop being abusive towards the crew, she told them: "Shut up, you fucking c***."
Johnson, a tree surgeon, called Ms Wenn a bitch when he also received a note from the captain saying he was barred from further alcohol.
Greenslade was heard saying "Fuck these people and fuck the captain", telling the stewardesses "look at me when I am talking to you" and telling everyone how rude she thought the crew were.
When they were told the police might be called upon landing, Greenslade replied: "Call the police, they won't fucking do anything."
The police were called and all three were arrested.
In a letter to the court, Mawhinney expressed his remorse: "This is the most shameful and embarrassing thing that has ever happened to me. I make no attempt to excuse what happened."
The court heard that he had been prescribed medication that may have contributed to his poor behaviour on the day.
Mohamed Reza Ally, mitigating for Johnson and Greenslade, said: "This was the opportunity of a lifetime, and you are quite right when you say that they had this sense of entitlement that they probably never had before as a result of the TV programme.
"It was youth, naivety and stupidity - they've involved themselves (in the row) and made it much worse by escalating it into a group situation.
"They are aware that things are not going to be easy in relation to the publicity.
"This behaviour on any view is wholly out of character, and in my submission that should be born in mind."
Passing sentence, District Judge Deborah Wright said: "You were at the end of a prolonged period of social confinement and that might have had some psychological impact on you and might have been the reason each of you behaved out of character.
"You each acted with a profound sense of entitlement, you each acted without any consideration for the crew or the job they had to do."
In relation to the public order offence Mawhinney, Johnson and Greenslade were each fined £1,500 and ordered to pay £500 in compensation to Ms Wenn and £500 in compensation to Ms Griffiths.
They were also each ordered to pay £85 towards prosecution costs and £150 victim surcharge.
The trio were also fined an additional £100 each for failing to obey the lawful commands of the pilot in charge of the aircraft.
It must be said that the arrogance and condescension demonstrated by these three Z-listers are deeply unattractive qualities. Good manners costs nothing.
It is quite telling that Mawhinney asked cabin crew if they knew who his mother was, because if he’d asked if they knew who he was they wouldn’t have had a clue!
In current circumstances cabin crew have quite enough to do ensuring the safety and comfort of passengers on board.
It is completely unacceptable for anyone to abuse them and impede their important work.
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