Moment Blue star Lee Ryan was removed from a BA flight by armed police and arrested ‘after he was abusive towards staff when they wouldn’t serve him alcohol’
- Footage shows armed police asking the Blue singer, 39, to exit the British Airways flight after it landed at London City Airport on Sunday
- Lee was allegedly abusive towards cabin crew during the flight when they refused to serve him alcohol
- Star was allegedly arrested on suspicion of public order offences, and was released 12 hours later pending further investigation
Images have emerged of Lee Ryan being removed from a British Airways flight by armed police after allegedly becoming abusive to cabin crew when they refused to serve him alcohol.
The former Blue singer, 39, was arrested by police at London City Airport on suspicion of public order offences, before being released 12 hours later pending further investigation.
Passengers claimed the ex-Celebrity Big Brother contestant engaged in ‘crazy behaviour’ during the flight from Glasgow, including walking up and down the aisle and ‘running behind the cabin crew curtain.’
Ryan has been open about his struggles with alcohol in the past, having previously described himself as being a ‘good alcoholic’ for 10 years.
In footage shared online, which has since been deleted, police can be seen boarding the plane after it arrived to the capital, with one officer asking Ryan to leave with them.
The singer asks why he is being ordered to disembark before a female officer tells him they will ‘discuss it later.’
‘Can you get off?’ Footage has emerged of the moment that Lee Ryan was removed from a British Airways flight at London City Airport by armed police before allegedly being arrested
A few seconds later Ryan stands up, collects his belongings, and exits the aircraft.
A source told The Sun: ‘It was quite shocking. He’d been irate on the flight and was being abusive and swearing.
‘He was just being generally abusive to people. Everyone just thought he was being a fool.
‘He kept asking for more alcohol but they would not serve him. He got up off his seat and he just looked like a fool.’
A representative for the former popstar declined to comment when contacted by MailOnline.
During the flight staff are believed to have radioed ahead to the authorities on the ground, prompting a police van to meet Ryan on the runway.
After being removed from the flight, it is believed that Ryan was handcuffed and arrested on suspicion of public order offences, spending the night in a cell.
Drama: Lee was then allegedly arrested by police on suspicion of public order offences, and was released 12 hours later pending further investigation
Ryan has since been released from custody after 12 hours, pending further investigation.
A passenger, who claimed the incident delayed the flight by 20 minutes, told The Sun: ‘He became aggressive with the air hostesses once it became clear he wouldn’t get given alcohol.
‘At one point he left his seat and started walking up and down the aisle despite being told to sit down — he even ran behind the cabin crew curtains. It was crazy behaviour.’
Another said: ‘The way he acted was really intimidating.’
A Metropolitan Police spokesman told MailOnline on Sunday: ‘At around 1640hrs on Sunday, 31 July, officers met a flight that had arrived at London City Airport from Glasgow.
‘A 39-year-old man was arrested for a public order offence. He was taken into custody at an East London police station and was released under investigation the following day.’
Ryan has previously spoken of his struggles with alcohol, after describing himself as having been a ‘good alcoholic’ for 10 years.
Oh dear: Lee was handcuffed after the plane landed in London following a flight from Glasgow (stock image of BA plane)
LEE RYAN’S CHEQUERED PAST – INCLUDING DRIVING BANS, ALCOHOL STRUGGLES AND BANKCRUPCY
2003: BANNED FROM DRIVING AFTER DRINK-DRIVING
Ryan was banned from driving and was fined £2,250 as a consequence of drink driving in 2003.
JUNE 2008: FOUND GUILTY OF ASSAULTING A TAXI DRIVER
On 31 December 2007, Ryan was arrested for an assault on a taxi driver in Oxted, Surrey. He was released on bail until February 2008.
In June 2008, he was fined £500 and ordered to pay £300 in compensation and £450 in legal costs after being found guilty of assault at Guildford Magistrates’ Court, according to News Shopper.
AUGUST 2010: CHARGED WITH ASSAULTING HIS NOW EX-FIANCEE
The singer was charged with assaulting his now ex-fiancee Samantha Miller – the mother of his son Rayn – after allegedly hitting her as they drove through London’s West End.
The charge was later withdrawn that month at the request of his partner.
MAY 2014: BANNED FROM DRIVING FOR TWO YEARS AFTER FAILING TO PROVIDE A SPECIMEN FOR DRINK-DRIVE TEST
Ryan was handed a £3,325 fine and banned from the roads for two years after admitting failing to provide a specimen and causing £120 of criminal damage.
Officers spotted Ryan swerving erratically at 5.30am on April 11, 2014, as he drove his female friend’s Audi A3 on the Uxbridge Road in Ealing.
The court heard that after being taken to a police station, he refused to take a breath test to see if he was over the limit and repeatedly swore at officers, branding one a ‘c***’.
In a police interview, Ryan he told officers he had drunk a vodka and tonic and a rum and Coke, but thought he was ok to drive.
Ryan was told his two-year driving ban would be cut to 18 months if he completes a drink-driving course.
APRIL 2015: SINGER DECLARES HIMSELF BANKCRUPT
The singer officially filed papers in Central London County Court in April 2015.
His spokesperson told MailOnline at the time that his decision came about because he wants to provide the ‘best possible future’ for his two children.
The representative said in a statement released to MailOnline: ‘Lee has tried to manage his financial commitments from over the years to the best of his abilities but ultimately concedes that bankruptcy is the best way forward in order for him to provide the best future for his children.’
AUGUST 2019: RYAN SPEAKS ABOUT STRUGGLES WITH ALCOHOL
Ryan spoke about his struggles with alcohol and described himself as having been a ‘good alcoholic’ for ten years.
The Blue singer previously told how he would sometimes drink a bottle of whiskey a day to ‘numb the pain’ but he has put those days behind him.
Speaking to The Sun Online at the time, he said: ‘I still struggle now and again. I struggle in my own way that I don’t use drink to forget and that was the point.’
He said that he’s happy he never became dependent on drugs but added that he ‘dabbled’ with them in the past.
Ryan gave up alcohol when he appeared on Strictly Come Dancing last year but began drinking again following his appearance on the show.
In Blue’s memoir All Rise, he also said he was in a shaky mental state when he appeared on Celebrity Big Brother in 2014.
AUGUST 2020: BANNED FROM DRIVING FOR SIX MONTHS AFTER SPEEDING TWICE
Ryan was banned from driving for six months after being caught speeding twice within three months.
He admitted doing 85mph in a Mercedes on the M1 motorway near Sheffield on May 19, 2019.
He was then caught doing 58mph in a 50mph zone in the same car while driving through Eltham, south-east London, on August 14, 2019, and failed to respond to police about who was driving the vehicle.
Ryan, who had nine points on his licence, was disqualified from driving for six months, handed a £120 fine and told to pay costs of £142 – totalling £262.
JULY 2021: HE DENIES CLAIMS OF TRANSPHOBIA AFTER FOUL-MOUTHED ATTACK ON A DRAG QUEEN
Last year, Ryan furiously denied claims he is transphobic or homophobic after he became embroiled in a vicious spat with a drag queen on Instagram.
He sarcastically commented on gender identity, posting to his 172,000 followers: ‘I might start identifying myself as an alien / star / seed / indigo child. Anything but human. Please respect my wishes.’
After the post, drag queen Layla Zee Susan – real name Sammy Shepherd – challenged him for his ‘insensitive’ comments with Ryan launching a foul-mouthed attack on Layla.
Discussing the fall out with The Sun, Ryan said: ‘I’m bisexual and my bandmate is gay – I would never disrespect anyone like that.
‘I normally ignore things like that but it’s like somebody calling me racist when I’m not. Duncan’s constantly dressing in drag, he’s gay, Blue has a big [gay] following – so this really upset me.
‘Some of my best friends are gay. I didn’t say one thing about him being in drag.’
AUGUST 2021: BANNED FROM DRIVING FOR 12 MONTHS
The singer was disqualified from driving for 12 months and fined £660 as he appeared at Peterborough Magistrates’ Court via remote link from Spain.
He said he had no money after he was ordered to pay £1,501 in total, including court costs, telling the court: ‘I just don’t have any money.’
Court papers said he was charged with driving a Mercedes at 70mph in a 60mph limit on an A-road in Peterborough, Fletton Parkway, on August 8, 2020, and driving a Mercedes at 71mph on the same road on August 22, 2020.
These charges were dismissed as the prosecution offered no evidence due to there being no means of proving who was driving.
Ryan went on trial for two counts of failing to give information relating to the identification of the driver when required, and was found guilty by magistrates.
Ryan was handed two lots of six points against his licence, resulting in a disqualification from driving for 12 months.
APRIL 2022: COMPANY GOES BUST FOLLOWING DEBTS
It was revealed his company had gone bust with debts totalling £69,000.
Lee Bee Ltd was placed into voluntary liquidation due to owing the huge amount, including an estimated £15,000 to HMRC and £50,000 to Metro Bank.
The firm, which was set up in 2019, had no money to pay out to its creditors and began to be wound up by liquidator Stuart Rathmell on March 17.
The debts also include £4,000 owed to the Blue singer, 38, who is the sole director.
According to records, his only other active company Catch A Dream Productions Ltd filed accounts on March 23, which revealed debts of £2,175.
JULY 2022: ALLEGEDLY ARRESTED AND REMOVED FROM FLIGHT
Ryan was removed from a British Airways flight by armed police after allegedly becoming abusive to cabin crew when they refused to serve him alcohol.
He was allegedly arrested by police at London City Airport on suspicion of public order offences, before being released 12 hours later pending further investigation.
During the flight, staff are believed to have radioed ahead to the authorities on the ground, prompting a police van to meet Ryan on the runway.
After being removed from the plane, it is believed that Ryan was handcuffed and arrested on suspicion of public order offences, spending the night in a cell.
The former pop star, who has appeared on Celebs Go Dating, told in 2019 how he still drinks socially but not ‘inwardly’.
Back in April it was revealed his company had gone bust with debts totalling £69,000.
Lee Bee Ltd was placed into voluntary liquidation due to owing the huge amount, including an estimated £15,000 to HMRC and £50,000 to Metro Bank.
The firm, which was set up in 2019, had no money to pay out to its creditors and began to be wound up by liquidator Stuart Rathmell on March 17.
The debts also include £4,000 owed to the Blue singer, 38, who is the sole director.
A representative for Lee was contacted by MailOnline for comment at the time.
Married: In March it was revealed that Lee had secretly married his girlfriend of two years Verity Paris after relocating to Spain – they share one daughter
According to records, his only other active company Catch A Dream Productions Ltd filed accounts on March 23, which revealed debts of £2,175.
Ryan relocated to Spain in 2020 with his girlfriend Verity Paris after seeing work dry up at home.
In March it was revealed that he had secretly married his girlfriend of two years.
The couple, who welcomed a daughter – whose name they haven’t publicly shared – in August last year, tied the knot in an intimate ceremony.
Ryan moved to Spain last year to start a family with Verity, 31, and the couple said I Do at a registry office in Gibraltar.
The newlywed told The Sun: ‘I met someone finally who loves and supports me in everything I do.
‘Verity is a beautiful, strong and loving woman who I treasure, and I’m a lucky man to have such a wonderful mother for my child, and now wife in her.
‘I’ve never been more calm and grounded and I have Verity to thank for that. I’m the happiest I’ve ever been in my life because of the wonderful family life I now have.’
As well as his daughter with Verity, Ryan is also dad to daughter Bluebell, 13, who he shares with ex Jessica Keevil, and son Rayn, 12, whose mother is his ex-fiancée, Samantha Miller.
The couple moved to a beachfront apartment in the Costa del Sol in 2020 with the duo admitting that they now have a ‘better quality of life’ and ‘new lease of life’.
Ryan admitted that after 20 years of living in London he now loves scenic walks along the coastline and ‘sea air.’
Band: Lee, whose early 2000s boyband Blue sold more than 14 million records worldwide, is pictured with band members Antony Costa, Duncan James and Simon Webbe last month
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