A BARNSTAPLE jockey with a flying phobia who was abusive and strange on a flight from Malaga has been jailed for five months.

Cabin crew could smell alcohol on Andrew Cairns' breath as he boarded the easyJet Airbus on June 22, Bristol Crown Court heard.

They saw him drinking a clear liquid before he kicked and barged flight attendant Tomas Blackman, stared at a female passenger and tried to wreck a smoke detector in the toilet.

Concerned aircrew reported him to the aircraft's captain, who radioed on to Bristol Airport to alert police.

Cairns, 30, of Lovacott, Newton Tracey, pleaded guilty to being drunk in an aircraft.

Judge Simon Darwall-Smith told him: "The Court of Appeal has said that the offence of being drunk on an aircraft requires condign punishment to deter others.

"Apart from your behaviour towards the crew, I regard it as a particular danger that you tried to destroy a smoke detector in the lavatory. It is no excuse that you have a form of phobia of flying."

James Ward, prosecuting, said the aircraft had two flight crew, four cabin crew members and 128 passengers.

The court heard Cairns was apologetic and remorseful for his actions.

He had previous convictions for burglary, dishonesty and begging.

David Maunder, defending, conceded his client's drunk and strange behaviour would have been annoying to cabin crew and upsetting to passengers.

He stressed that no physical harm was caused to anyone, there was no damage caused to the aircraft and no actual disruption to the flight.

Mr Maunder said his client had not drunk for two months, was attending Alcoholics Anonymous, and was working as a jockey.

Peter Morone confirmed Cairns was "doing fantastic" in his battle against the booze and said his friend couldn't believe his actions on the flight.

Police Sergeant Barry Attwater, who is based at Bristol Airport, said: "There is no justification for getting drunk on an aircraft and anyone who does shows a reckless disregard for other passengers on the aircraft.

"We do not wish to stop people enjoying themselves; however, passengers need to know their limits.

"It just proves again that courts take a dim view of passengers behaving in such a manner on board aircraft."

Chris Ware, head of security at Bristol Airport, said: "This case sends out a strong message that anti-social behaviour will not be tolerated at the airport or on board a flight."