A British man on board a flight to the Dominican Republic headbutted another passenger and assaulted two other people forcing the aircraft to land in Bermuda.

Ian Claxton, 35, admitted injuring and assaulting staff and passengers and refusing to give his passport to crew members while on the flight from Britain when he appeared in Magistrates’ Court yesterday.

The court heard that one man suffered a gash to his eyebrow during the incident.

Claxton, from Birmingham, England, was also charged alongside Amiee Walker, 27, from nearby Brierley Hill, with verbally abusing crew on the flight and ignoring their instructions. They pleaded guilty to all offences.

The court heard that Claxton and Walker were drinking tequila on board a TUI Airlines flight on August 1, despite being told by crew that no alcohol purchased outside the flight could be consumed on board.

Their behaviour forced the pilot to detour to LF Wade International Airport, after which Walker was taken to Hamilton Police Station.

Claxton, who was foaming at the mouth, had to be sedated to be properly examined by emergency medical technicians.

Toxicology tests showed that Claxton had alcohol, cannabis and cocaine in his system when the incidents occurred.

Claxton apologised for his actions and told senior magistrate Maxanne Anderson that he did not remember what happened during the flight or after landing in Bermuda.

Ms Anderson adjourned the case to tomorrow for sentencing and remanded both defendants in custody until that time.

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