Lee Ryan's Racially Aggravated Assault Conviction Upheld After Multiple Appeals
Singer's legal challenges fail as courts affirm findings of drunk and racially charged behaviour on a 2022 flight.
Image: Matt Weston / AI
Sarah Connor
Singer Lee Ryan has exhausted his legal avenues, with courts upholding his conviction for racially aggravated assault and being drunk on an aircraft following a July 2022 incident.
The conviction stems from a July 31, 2022, flight where Ryan interacted with British Airways cabin crew member Ms. Gordon during a journey from Glasgow to London.
A crown court previously rejected Ryan's appeal against the assault conviction, affirming the initial ruling against him.
He also lost a subsequent High Court bid to overturn his conviction, marking another legal defeat in the protracted case.
In September 2023, Isleworth Crown Court handed Ryan a 12-month suspended prison sentence for his actions.
The incident began with Ryan calling Ms. Gordon 'beautiful' and placing his sunglasses on her face, she recounted.
She further stated Ryan grabbed both her wrists, leaned in as if to kiss her, and declared, 'I’ll have your chocolate babies'.
I’ll have your chocolate babies.
Ms. Gordon claimed Ryan told her, 'Before I get off this plane, I need a kiss from you,' and 'I want your chocolate children.'
During police questioning, Ryan admitted to being a 'd*head' and expressed a desire to send Ms. Gordon flowers, stating his 'best friends are Black and Asian'.
At an appeal hearing, Ryan denied grabbing Ms. Gordon's wrists, though he conceded touching her wrists with an open palm.
He maintained this touch served as an apology once he realized his comments were unwelcome.
Ryan's lawyers contended his account regarding the wrist contact shifted between his police interview and his court testimony.
Ryan countered this assertion, stating it was incorrect to claim his story had changed, asserting his accounts in interview and in court had been 'consistent'.
He claimed adverse inferences could not be drawn because he had been interviewed under arrest for sexual assault and public order offenses, which differed from the assault charge he faced at trial.
Previously, Ryan stated he had no recollection of the flight, describing his actions as 'playful' and denying any racist intent.
He claimed his comments were 'banter, just drunk banter, I suppose; there was no malice or intention to upset anyone.'
Banter, just drunk banter, I suppose; there was no malice or intention to upset anyone.
His lawyers argued the Crown Court judge wrongly drew an adverse inference from Ryan's police interview, with Ryan telling the court he had been misled by police during his interview.
The legal system's consistent upholding of the conviction reflects a firm stance against such behavior, mirroring broader societal demands for accountability.
The outcome sends a clear message to all stakeholders, from celebrities to the general public, about the serious repercussions of racially charged actions and intoxication in confined environments like aircraft.
This ruling contributes to a growing body of legal precedents that address and penalize discriminatory behavior, reinforcing the importance of respectful interactions across all sectors.