A businessman who touched himself inappropriately on a plane back to Scotland has been banned from flying British Airways for 20 years.
Gordon Alexander Christie, 66, was travelling with his wife and daughter in April last year when he downed whisky, white wine, champagne and a Bloody Mary.
The entrepreneur, who owns several small enterprises including a caravan site in the Scottish Highlands, denied but was convicted of an act of outraging public decency.
He appeared in Uxbridge Magistrates’ Court wearing a light blue suit jacket over a white shirt and a chequered tie, accompanied by his wife and son-in-law.
District Judge Kathryn Verghis said she found Christie’s behaviour on April 16 last year was ‘sexualised’ as he ‘fondled’ himself inside and outside his clothes.
She added the Scotsman, who is also head of his local village association at Fochabers, was drunk at the time of the ‘prolonged and disgusting’ offence.
But Dawn Burrows, defending, said Christie ‘disputes that there is a sexual element’ and maintained he was ‘suffering from an itch’.
She explained she had ‘seen the videos many times’.
Gordon Christie is seen here next to a Swiss Cottage he restored – which sits alongside the A98 on the outskirts of Fochabers
The court heard Christie was filmed by a passenger, who provided 12 clips of the incident but did not report the offence immediately because he was ‘fearful during the flight such that he did not go to sleep.’
Mrs Burrows told the court Christie was ‘remorseful’ and ‘mortified that at his age he finds himself before the court’ and is now aware his ‘good character has been lost’.
She added: ‘He maintains that he was unaware of what he was doing.
‘He accepts that it is serious, but he does not accept that this is sexual in nature.’
But Judge Verghis dismissed the account, saying: ‘I don’t accept the defence that it was out of irritation and discomfort.’
She told the pensioner: ‘You have persisted with a case that was not remotely viable given the overwhelming evidence.’
The judge added Christie demonstrated a ‘lack of insight into the impact of his behaviour’
She said: ‘I make the point again that this was a prolonged and disgusting incident on an aircraft where no one could have felt safe.
‘You get no credit because you were convicted at trial.
‘I take into account your age, health issues, and previous good character, however, I consider this matter so serious that only custody can be considered.
‘But given what I know about you, I consider this can be suspended.’
Christie was sentenced to 26 weeks imprisonment, suspended for 18 months.
He was ordered to serve 15 days of rehabilitation activity requirements, which translates in Scottish law to six month’s supervision, as well as costs of £650 and a victim surcharge of £154.
The court heard he has also been put on a no-fly list by British Airways lasting 20 years – meaning he will be 86 by the time he can travel with the company again.
Christie, of Fochabers in the Scottish Highlands, has no previous convictions.
