Indian-origin man jailed in UK for pestering girl on flight

A 38-year-old drunk Indian-origin man, who pestered a schoolgirl on a New Delhi-London flight, has been jailed for four months and ordered to sign the sex offenders register for the next seven years by a court here.
Manjit Singh Sidhu, from the city of Leicester, pawed the 14-year-old and told her he wanted to have sex with her, while she was flying home with classmates and schoolteachers from an educational trip on April 18 last year.
The man also engaged the teen in conversation about Bangkok's infamous red-light district, prostitutes, transsexuals and drugs during the Jet Airways flight from New Delhi to Heathrow, the Leicester Mercury reported.

"The man turned his head around and asked me where I had been and said he was interested in travelling, and made references to Bangkok's red-light district, prostitutes, transsexuals, drugs and sex," the girl, who was sitting behind the man on the plane, said in her statement.
She said she did not want to continue the conversation and put on headphones to watch a film.
But she was interrupted later by Sidhu, who came stumbling down the aisle and perched himself on the armrest next to her.

"He tried to stroke my head and brushed my hair away and stroked my face and neck with his hand three or four times," she said. "I felt insecure and unable to say anything."

Prosecutor Rory Keane told Isleworth Crown Court: "He was persistent in drinking on the plane and the cabin crew attempted to prevent him having any more.
"He then tried to order drinks in the name of the passenger next to him, and when staff intervened he was abusive towards them."
The victim reported Sidhu to a teacher, and police were waiting for him when the plane landed.
Sidhu pleaded guilty to being drunk on an aircraft during the journey.
Apart from being jailed, Sidhu was ordered to sign the sex offenders register for the next seven years.