Passenger cleared of drunken jet antics after cop misses trial

OFFICER 'THOUGHT COURT CASE WAS NEXT YEAR'

- KENNY PARKER & NICOLE WOOTTON-CANE

A HOLIDAYMAKER hauled to court over alleged drunken antics on a passenger jet has seen his charges cleared after the policeman who dealt with the case did not attend his trial.

Donald McGregor, 61, could have faced jail if he were convicted over claims he failed to stay in his seat as the plane landed. But he walked free from court after Sergeant Thomas Brooks, who had detained, filmed and questioned the accused, did not attend the re-scheduled trial.

The defendant claimed that after a first trial was adjourned in December last year, Sgt Brookes told him he had been 'kept waiting all day' to give evidence and would 'not be returning to court' for the new trial.

But prosecutors insisted Sgt Brookes 'always seemed fully supportive of the case' and had simply got the date wrong in his diary.