A DRUNKEN couple have been sentenced after they were caught engaging in some 'amorous' foreplay at the back of a plane, while it was still on the runway.

Rebecca Cross, from Abingdon, and her boyfriend Christopher Pickering, pleaded guilty to being drunk on a British Airways flight to Marseille, France, last year.

The couple had booked seats on the emergency exit row near the wings, but cabin crew at Heathrow decided the couple were too drunk to sit there for safety reasons and they were moved to the back row.

Prosecutor Ravinder Johal said as the plane taxied down the runway at around 5.30pm on September 16, a cabin crew member caught Cross, 37, with her stockings off and legs high in the air.

Pickering, 45, was viewed as having his hand near her crotch area, but as authorities could not decide what exactly the randy pair were up to, they were only charged with entering the aircraft when drunk.

Oxford Mail:

Mr Johal said: “Valerie Hughes, an experienced cabin crew member, gave instructions that Mr Pickering and Miss Cross were not to be sat in the emergency exit seats due to their state of intoxication.

“They were assigned seats in the back and she observed they were stumbling and drunk.

“Ms Hughes noticed Miss Cross had her legs hanging, they were open wide and raised in the air.

“The male had her left hand on the vagina area and was moving his hand up and down. She said, ‘what do you think you’re doing?’ The couple froze and the man kept his hand on the vagina area. She instructed her to put her dress down. The flight had not taken off.

“They were taken to the London Heathrow police station and admitted to the charge.”

Pickering, of Dunstable in Bedfordshire, and Cross, had said they had 'five or six drinks' in the lounge in the two hours while they waited for the delayed flight.

A consideration for an adjournment was made at Uxbridge Magistrates Court on December 3 to file for the separate charge of indecent exposure, but this was discarded following the couple’s guilty pleas.

Carl Woolf, defending both Cross and Pickering, said: “There is a sexual aspect of the matter.

“It’s very clear from the air stewardess there was some amorous behaviour, but she didn’t directly see any masturbation or penetration.”

Oxford Mail:

Mr Woolf noted that Cross had previously plead guilty for a drink driving charge in July 2019.

She was disqualified from driving for 26 months and had completed 100 hours of unpaid service in October last year.

Mr Woolf, in mitigation, said: “It’s right to say that following both of their interviews they both returned to the airport the next day.

“Mr Pickering purchased flights at cost of £700 onto Marseille as he was meeting a client there and Miss Cross and he were allowed to fly.

“Subsequently they’ve had the banning order from British Airways for 12 months."

Cross, who wore a white blouse, black coat and red trousers, broke down in sobs after Judge Nicholas Wood, at Isleworth Crown Court, after she was told she would not face a custodial sentence for breaching the community order.

Judge Wood said: “I’m not considering a custodial sentence, either immediate or suspended. I am considering either a community order or a fine. I consider the previous order expired.”

Sentencing, he said: “No doubt what you did is known to your colleagues at work and I accept you are thoroughly ashamed of yourselves.”

Pickering was handed a £2000 fine, while Cross was given a 12-month community order and forced to undertake 60 hours of unpaid work.