A GROOM-TO-BE who assaulted an air hostess on the flight home from his stag do has been spared jail.

Peter Thompson, of Cranbrook Road, Poole, was told he could face prison after he pleaded guilty to assaulting a flight attendant and being drunk during a Ryanair flight from Alicante to Bournemouth on May 4.

The air hostess, Agnieszla Kowalczyk, had accused Thompson of slapping her bottom after saying she was very pretty and that he loved her.

Thompson, who is due to get married in August, claimed he had flailed his arms to express himself and accidentally made contact with the stewardess as she walked past.

Yesterday at Bournemouth Magistrates Court, James Moore, defending, described his client as an “exuberant” and “bubbly” man who was “in no way nasty”.

Mr Moore said Thompson was first told about the allegation after he was approached by a senior member of the cabin crew.

He said: “He immediately said sorry and took his seat on the plane.”

Urging the judge to take into account his positive character references, Mr Moore added: “This is a man who has a history of working with charities.

“He was fully open and honest with the police.”

The court heard Thompson, who teaches at a language school, had received character references from his brother, who is a former senior police officer, his fiancé and boss, as well as the manager at a charity organisation where he volunteers.

Sentencing Thompson for both charges, district judge Stephen Nicholls said: “I accept this incident was very much a one-off incident and was out of character.”

Thompson was handed a community order to carry out 120 hours unpaid work. The 48-year-old was also ordered to pay the victim £100 in compensation, costs of £80 and a victim surcharge of £60.