LEE RYAN LOSES HIGH COURT BID TO OVERTURN ASSAULT CONVICTION

Lee Ryan, frontman of the band Blue, has failed in a High Court challenge to overturn his conviction for racially aggravated assault on a British Airways cabin crew member. Lord Justice Holgate and Mr Justice Johnson rejected his claim and returned the case to Crown Court for sentencing. Ryan was convicted by magistrates in 2023 following an incident on a flight from Glasgow to London on 31 July 2022. He had admitted being drunk on the aircraft.

During the flight, Ryan told the cabin crew member, Ms Gordon, that she was pretty and resembled a "sweet chocolate chip cookie". According to the court judgment, he then grabbed both her wrists, leaned in as if to kiss her, and said: "I'll have your chocolate babies". Ms Gordon told him to return to his seat. At Isleworth Crown Court in November 2024, Ryan gave evidence denying he had grabbed her wrists, claiming instead that he had touched them with an open palm as an apology. This account differed from what he had told police during his initial arrest, when he had admitted grabbing her wrists.

Ryan was convicted of racially aggravated assault and threatening a member of aircraft crew. He was initially given a suspended sentence, which was rescinded pending the outcome of his legal challenge. The High Court judges' rejection of his appeal means the case now returns to Crown Court, where Ryan will be sentenced for the offences of which he was convicted.