Peter Shepherd, a 49-year-old PE teacher at Royal Belfast Academical Institution, received a 120-hour community service order at Antrim Magistrates Court in Ballymena. The sentence followed guilty pleas to four charges from an incident on an EasyJet flight from Hurghada, Egypt, to Belfast International Airport on April 20 of last year.

Shepherd, from Whinfield in Larne, admitted assaulting a female cabin crew manager, using disorderly behaviour, being drunk on the aircraft, and behaving in a threatening and abusive manner. Police attended the airport in the early hours after reports of the assault.

The court heard the victim described Shepherd acting disruptively toward crew members. A passenger offered to restrain him. Shepherd pressed his forehead into the right side of the cabin manager's face while shouting abuse at her.

In police interviews, Shepherd denied the allegations but acknowledged consuming drinks before boarding and using a hip flask during the flight. His defence noted he continues working at the school with support, but the board of governors will assess his position after the case.

District Judge Nigel Broderick noted Shepherd's children were on the flight and his behaviour set a poor example. The judge stressed the confined space of an aircraft and that the crew did not deserve the abuse.

Shepherd also received a £500 fine and must pay £500 compensation to the assaulted cabin manager. The judge recognised Shepherd's expressions of remorse, regret, and shame.