He was described as “fidgety, jumpy and agitated” by a colleague
A drugged British Airways flight attendant was caught naked and ‘agitated’ in the plane toilet after a chemsex session the night before. Haden Pentecost, 41, of Basingstoke, was spared jail today at Isleworth Crown Court.
Mr Pentecost was acting as cabin crew on a 10-and-a-half-hour flight from San Francisco to Heathrow, when he was found “dishevelled, pale, sweaty and erratic” after taking drugs as part of a chemsex session the night before.
The former flight attendant then locked himself in one of the plane toilets, after complaining of stomach cramps and saying he needed to change his clothes. After he opened the door, a colleague found him totally naked and she was forced to dress him before moving him to a free seat, the court heard.
Mr Pentecost previously pleaded guilty to performing an aviation function while impaired on drugs at Uxbridge Magistrates. The former flight attendant has since been sacked by British Airways.
The flight attendant was spoken to by the captain before health professionals was called for, the court heard. He had dilated pupils, a high heart rate (120 bpm), and had to be checked every 20 minutes until the plane arrived at Heathrow – where paramedics took him to hospital.
He also drank between 15-20 bottles of water during the flight but his appetite “could not be satisfied.” Prosecutor Natasha Lake told the court Pentecost had failed to complete pre-flight safety checks and that his colleagues had to manage the 10-and-a-half-hour flight without his assistance.
Mr Pentecost was handed a six month sentence, suspended for 12 months, at Isleworth Crown Court today. Mr Pentecost will also have to perform 80 hours of unpaid work, pay £150 in prosecution costs and a victim surcharge.
Her Honour Judge Duncan said: “You tried to carry on when given an out, when your manager checked if you were well enough, and you insisted on carrying on. I am conscious this is because you’re dedicated to your job and didn’t want to let your colleagues down and expected to feel better but that was extremely poor judgement on your part.”
She added: “You are extremely ashamed and mortified. You have addressed what happened that day, you’re tee-total and have never taken drugs again.”
The defendant was also described as a “positive member of society” who had been sacked in “humiliating circumstances”, in the judge’s sentencing remarks. She also noted the defendant’s immediate guilty plea, and that his behaviour had not been aggressive or confrontational.
Defending Mr Pentecost, Counsel Jon Harrison said: “All he hopes is that he can one day put this all behind him, learn from it and at the same time acknowledge he will never risk employment by way of lifestyle choices or aftermath of lifestyle choices again.”
Mr Pentecost’s officer did not feel that he needed drug rehabilitation services.
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