Blue singer Lee Ryan has charge of biting police officer dropped

Blue singer Lee Ryan has had a charge against him dropped over a claim he assaulted a police officer after boarding a flight drunk.

The boyband member had admitted to biting a police officer in court in January, but successfully withdrew the guilty plea last month in response to what he described as "poor advice from his solicitor".

Appearing at Westminster Magistrates' Court today, Ryan was told the Crown Prosecution Service had dropped the charge of assault.

Standing in the dock dressed in a blue suit and patterned tie, Ryan, 40, spoke only to confirm his name and date of birth. The court heard he had boarded a British Airways flight from Glasgow to London City Airport on July 31 last year after drinking a bottle of port.

After being refused more alcohol on the plane and told to return to his seat, Ryan made comments about attendant Leah Gordon’s looks.

He called her “my chocolate cookie”, before saying she could have their “chocolate children” and grabbing her wrists. Ryan was found guilty at Ealing Magistrates’ Court in January of racially aggravated common assault by beating and behaving in an abusive way towards the cabin crew member.

He had earlier pleaded guilty to being drunk on an aircraft. Speaking to the court on Wednesday, district judge Tan Ikram said: “The drunkenness is as serious as the charges he has been found guilty of.” He told Ryan’s defence lawyer Keima Payton: “The aircraft member formed the view that your client was drunk.” The judge said this provided the backdrop for the offences, with all three charges “intertwined”. Ryan will be sentenced at Isleworth Crown Court on a date to be confirmed.

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