A 46-YEAR-OLD St Helens man who drunkenly assaulted airline crew in front of terrified passengers during a flight from Manchester to the Caribbean has been jailed for eight months.

Christopher Rose, of Haydock Street, St Helens, pleaded guilty to an offence of affray and two charges of assault causing actual bodily harm and was sentenced today at Manchester Crown Court.

In a statement police today revealed details of how Rose became violent after being refused alcohol on a flight from Manchester Airport to the Dominican Republic on April 11, 2007.

According to Greater Manchester Police, during the flight Rose drank alcohol and started to become aggressive towards a fellow passenger sat in the seat next to him.

Cabin crew told Rose he couldn't have any more to drink and his neighbouring passenger was moved to the back of the plane to prevent any further abuse.

Shortly after, Rose got up and went to the back of the aircraft where he started to abuse the passenger again.

Cabin crew split both men up and escorted the victim back to his original seat.

But Rose then started venting his anger at the crew, shouting and swearing at them, and trying to get to the victim.

Crew blocked his path and Rose started lashing out, hitting one crew member in the face.

A struggle then started as crew tried to keep Rose at their back of the aircraft, at which point passengers joined in to help.

An air stewardess who was caught up in the fracas was then shoved to the floor by Rose and an aircraft restraint kit, which includes handcuffs, was brought to the back of the plane to get him under control.

Rose continued to struggle, but crew eventually restrained him into a seat.

However, he continued to lash out, kicking an air steward and spitting and biting a male passenger.

The restraint kit was eventually put in place and Rose remained in his seat.

When the aircraft landed at Puerto Plata in the Dominican Republic, the authorities boarded the aircraft and led Rose and his travelling companion off the plane.

Rose was allowed to go on his holiday. However, the airline, Thomas Cook, refused to fly him home and he had to make his own travel arrangements to get back to the UK.

He was arrested in July 2007 after GMP had been informed of the incident.

Police Constable Nicola Barrett, of Manchester Airport CID, said: "Rose's behaviour on that flight was an absolute disgrace.

"He verbally abused fellow passengers, punched, kicked and spat at cabin crew and left a trail of destruction in his wake.

"He did all of this in front of passengers embarking on what should have been a pleasant flight at the start of their holiday.

"It was particularly upsetting for a number of children who saw this unfold in front of them and were powerless to run away.

"Had the incident continued the pilot may have been forced to divert the flight.

"People who turn up drunk for flights or are abusive may be refused access to, or be removed from the airport.

"This sort of behaviour can frighten and upset fellow travellers if it occurs in terminal buildings, and be downright dangerous if it happens in flight."

Rose was jailed for eight months imprisonment for each offence, to run concurrently.