ANDREW REAY AND SHOCKING SEXUAL ASSAULT ON TEENAGE STUDENT IN CHESHIRE
A troubling incident occurred on a flight from Lanzarote to Manchester, involving a 17-year-old Spanish student who was subjected to an obscene and aggressive sexual attack by Andrew Reay, a 46-year-old man from Cheshire.The victim, who was traveling alone, described her ordeal after Reay made explicit remarks and physically harassed her during the flight, leaving her feeling deeply uncomfortable and distressed.
According to court proceedings, Reay sat to the right of the young girl onboard the easyJet flight.
Witnesses and the victim recounted that he was behaving in a rowdy and disruptive manner, engaging in loud antics and joking around with another passenger who was supposedly a friend.
Reay purchased alcohol from the cabin crew, consumed it during the flight, and then began to act in ways that caused the young woman significant discomfort.
As her attempts to distance herself from him failed, Reay would reach for her arm, insisting she stay close despite her discomfort.
The court heard that after more than an hour of this disturbing behavior, Reay's friend reportedly fell asleep, after which Reay allegedly shifted his attention fully onto the teenager.
The victim described him as being overly friendly and encouraging her to drink alcohol, despite her clear discomfort.
Although initially reluctant, she eventually drank the alcohol at Reay's persistent urging, feeling increasingly trapped and uneasy.
During the incident, Reay boasted about drug use, claiming that he had taken cannabis before the flight and that he had added white powder to his joints to enhance their effect.
He also displayed inappropriate and touchy behavior towards members of the cabin crew, while continuing to grab at the girl's arm, further escalating her distress.
Court documents state that Reay opened his legs wide enough to make contact with the teenager’s, which she found utterly abhorrent.
He then placed his left hand on her thigh, running it up and down her trousers, an action described as leaving her feeling thoroughly disgusted.
The young girl, overwhelmed and feeling unsafe, expressed her wish to simply go home and take a shower to wash away the ordeal.
Reay’s comments grew more explicit during the flight; he openly talked about having sex with her, despite her protests and attempts to push his hand away.
Court testimony revealed that he said, “it’s a shame she was only 17,” and “he would like to f*** her,” which caused her to feel terrified and on the verge of tears.
She believed at that moment that Reay might become violent.
In response to her distress, airline staff intervened, moving Reay to another seat on the plane.
The flight’s crew and other passengers observed his unhinged behavior, with one passenger, whose son has autism and wears a head harness, describing Reay as shouting and swearing at them.
The captain of the flight considered diverting the plane to Birmingham Airport due to Reay’s disruptive and threatening conduct.
However, Reay eventually fell asleep in his new seat, allowing the flight to continue to Manchester.
Upon arrival, Reay was detained and arrested at Manchester Airport.
It was revealed in court that Reay, who resides on Lawton Street in Crewe but now lives in the Canary Islands where he runs a business, had pleaded not guilty to sexual assault under section 3 at Manchester Magistrates Court but was subsequently convicted after a trial.
During the sentencing hearing, Reay’s defense attorney, Eleanor Gleeson, highlighted her client’s remorse and his understanding of the seriousness of his actions.
Reay had no convictions since the year 2000 and, despite facing some difficulties in his youth, had since established a life on the Canary Islands.
The judge, His Honour Maurice Greene, described the incident as “extremely unpleasant” but suggested that Reay’s actions were not indicative of his usual behavior, implying that intoxication and drug influence might have played a role.
The judge also noted that a prison sentence could adversely affect Reay’s employees, and therefore, he opted for a suspended sentence.
Reay was sentenced to four months in prison, suspended for twelve months, and was ordered to pay costs of £400.
Additionally, he was required to register as a sex offender following his conviction.
The judge emphasized the gravity of the offense, affirming that targeting a young, vulnerable individual on a plane was reprehensible conduct and that Reay’s actions made her feel unsafe in what should have been a routine flight.
