Drunk airline passenger, 28, who gave Nazi salute and launched racist tirade in front of Holocaust victims’ ‘disgusted’ family on Wizz Air flight from Poland to Liverpool avoids jail
- ‘Clearly drunk’ Louis Mann, 28, gave a Nazi salute amid a tirade of racist abuse
- A passenger, who lost family to the Holocaust, said he was ‘shaken and upset’
- Mann walked free from court but judge said he had ‘ entrenched racist views’
A drunk passenger who gave a Nazi salute and spouted a tirade of racist abuse on a plane in front of the family of a Holocaust victim today walked free from court.
Louis Mann, 28, landed at John Lennon Airport, Merseyside, from Poland when he ignored seatbelt signs, stood up in the aisle and made vile salutes, Liverpool Crown Court was told.
Zillah Williams, prosecuting, said during the Wizz Air flight from Warsaw on October 19, 2019, Mann was “clearly drunk” and repeatedly asked to sit down.
Louis Mann, pictured outside Liverpool Crown Court today, stood up as the plane landed and gave Nazi salutes as well as a tirade of racism
Mann had been a medical student in Poland and in recent week his family “noticed a deterioration” in his mental health
Mann, 28, had been ‘clearly drunk’ on the Wizz Air flight from Poland to Liverpool in October 2019
She said: “He was standing in the aisle of the flight making a Nazi salute and was shouting “Anglo-Saxon race, we are superior,” “’know your place, don’t answer back, you’re a Slavic race traitor n***** lover.”
“The flight was full and passengers reported that during the flight Mr Mann had to be repeatedly asked to sit down, to fasten his seatbelt and to refrain from making rude and offensive gestures.”
Among the passengers was VWlodzimier Tych, a Polish national, who lost family members during the Holocaust.
He wrote in a victim impact statement: “Prior to this I have always felt very welcome in this country.
“I have lived in this country for 31 years, I have never experienced this sort of behaviour.
“I am of Jewish origin, this made me feel very shaken and upset, I also felt angry, disgusted and upset as he continued his behaviour regardless of other people’s feelings.”
A passenger onboard the flight had lost family in the Holocaust during the Second World War
David Traynor, defending, said the behaviour was “disgraceful”, adding “no one should have to observe it”.
He explained Mann was a medical student in Poland and in the weeks leading up to the incident his family “noticed a deterioration” in his mental health.
Mr Traynor said Mann had told him when he was in Poland he had been groomed by far right extremist groups which is “where those views come from” and said “that’s where he got the terminology from”.
Mann, of Euston Grove, Morecambe, admitted being drunk on the plane but after denying racially aggravated harassment that charge was ordered to lie on file.
Mann was handed an eight-month sentence, suspended for two years, and 20 Rehabilitation Activity Requirements.
Judge Anil Murray, sentencing, said: “You got out of your seat and shouted vile racist abuse including Nazi salutes which seriously affected other passengers, including someone who had lost family in the Holocaust.
“I can only imagine the effect of your behaviour on him.
“It seems you have entrenched racist views.”