Architect convicted of cabin crew assault after failing to attend court

Simone de Gale, 44, a prominent architect, has been convicted of four offences, including assaulting a Virgin Atlantic cabin crew member, after failing to attend her trial at Ealing Magistrates' Court. The convictions were made in her absence on 5 February. Magistrates issued an arrest warrant for de Gale, of Notting Hill, west London, following her non-attendance.

Flight incident and charges

The charges stem from an incident on a Virgin Atlantic flight from Dubai on 5 February. De Gale was found guilty of assault by beating, being drunk on an aircraft, and using threatening or abusive behaviour towards cabin crew. She was also convicted of behaving in a threatening, abusive, insulting or disorderly manner towards a member of aircraft crew, and using threatening or abusive words or behaviour likely to cause harassment, alarm or distress.

Arrest and court appearance

The Crown Prosecution Service released footage of de Gale's arrest at Heathrow Airport. In the video, she told officers she had not touched anyone and had recorded everything. Upon being informed she was being placed under arrest, she responded, "I don't think that's possible." De Gale's LinkedIn profile states she is head of planning for the Belgravia Society, dealing with planning matters for Westminster City Council and the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea.