Sam Fox breaks silence after court appearance over drunken incident on BA flight

3 September 2024, 08:47

Former Page Three model Sam Fox has spoken out for the first time after appearing in court over a drunken incident on a British Airways flight.

Fox, 58, appeared at Uxbridge Magistrates' Court on Monday, after having pleaded guilty at an earlier hearing to being drunk and disorderly at the airport on December 3, 2023.

She also admitted using threatening behaviour, causing harassment, alarm or distress to a police constable during the incident, which stopped the London to Hamburg flight from taking off.

The Celebrity Big Brother star had been due to stand trial at the same court after denying assaulting her wife during the incident, but the charge was dropped.

It is understood this came after changes to the evidence meant there was no longer a realistic prospect of conviction.

Read more: Sam Fox cleared of 'assaulting wife' on BA flight to Germany

Read more: Sam Fox arrested after 'drunken bust-up' on BA flight to Germany

A statement from Fox's representative to MailOnline said: "Sam would like to thank the public for their ongoing support and kind messages in what has been a most upsetting time.

"The charge of domestic abuse was dropped prior to today and at all times strenuously denied. It was found that there was no realistic basis upon which to allege any assault.

"Sam accepts today's outcome and apologises profusely to those passengers and British Airways for the disruption caused."

Sentencing, district judge Tan Ikram handed down a fine and told the model-turned-singer that she had caused a "great inconvenience" to others on the flight.

Julianna Belinfante, prosecuting, said flight staff were made aware that Fox was "having an argument and being rude towards the gate staff" and was seen "walking and behaving strangely and was slurring her words, and staff could smell alcohol on her".

Fox began "behaving in a confrontational manner" towards her wife, Linda Olsen, and after the former model began "rocking back and forth in her chair, headbutting the seat in front of her" the decision was made to return the plane to the gate, the court heard.

The police were called to remove the pop singer from the plane and one officer said it was "clear to him that she was drunk".

Ms Belinfante said Fox was described by officers as "rude and argumentative" and became "verbally abusive" towards them as she was escorted out of the airport.

Alastair Smith, defending, said the "suggestion of a punch" was "never substantiated" and arose because "there was an air stewardess who thought she'd heard something which then got communicated as a physical act".

In security footage shown to the court, Fox could be heard telling one officer "I know where you live" as she was being led to the cells, telling officers to "p**s off" and threatening to "go on TV in two days and tell all about you".

The court heard she told PC Ashley Smith "I know where you live, I'll knock your teeth out" and called the officer "a ginger c***" a number of times.

In a witness statement, the officer of 10 years said: "The sustained level of abuse I was subjected to over a period well exceeding two hours was definitely the most long and most disgusting I have been subjected to."

Fox walked towards the officer, who "pushed her back" and she continued "being abusive to the officer", the court heard, including lunging at him with her arm and kicking her leg towards him.

"Ms Fox continued being abusive for some time, threatening to sue the officer," Ms Belinfante said.

The court was told Ms Fox told the officer "I know where you live, where your kids live, get me a lawyer" and called him a "w**ker" in a spree of "relentless and often vile" abuse that lasted until about 1.30am.

Fox gave a no comment interview while in custody but mentioned the flight was to a "charity event" in Germany and apologised for the incident, the court heard.

"Ms Fox suffers from depression and ADHD and said at the end of the interview she was shocked and apologised for the plane turning back," Ms Belinfante said.

Mr Smith, defending, said Fox had purchased two drinks at the airport to "calm her nerves" as she was "suffering from severe anxiety" at the time.

This included knee pain which had "flared up" after running to the flight's gate, as well as the fact she was leaving her mother for the first time since taking an "extended caring role", the court heard.

The defender said: "She shouldn't have taken any flights as she was not in a fit state to do so.

"She should have cancelled her commitments, but it is not in her character to do so."

"She felt stressed and panicked - and she accepts she felt restless in her seat and was upset," he continued.

The flight - which was carrying 162 adults and four children - was delayed by 12 hours until 7.30am the next day, with 42 passengers claiming compensation, the court heard.

Mr Ikram, handing down a 12-month community order, including a £1,000 fine and up to 25 rehabilitation activity requirement days, said: "In this case, the plane was still on the ground, but as a result of your behaviour the pilot - so that the aircraft would not be endangered - returned to the stand.

"There, passengers disembarked and were unable to catch the flight that evening - (they) had to stay overnight and caught the first flight in the morning.

"There is a claim for compensation, but I note at this stage the great inconvenience that you caused all those passengers who were unable to catch that flight and that is separate from the financial loss that British Airways incurred as a result of your actions."

The judge ordered Fox to pay a further £1,718 and nine pence - the amount British Airways said they had lost as a result of the incident - as well as £100 to PC Smith, £85 in costs and a £114 victim surcharge.