Drunk woman teacher, 25, who groped Virgin steward spared jail after claiming she 'thought it was her boyfriend'

Katherine Goldberg drank 'a pint of whisky' on the plane before the alleged incident took place

‘I would be wrong to impose a lifetime punishment preventing you working in a profession where you have talent', says judge

A Teacher who grabbed a flight attendant’s groin and demanded sex after downing almost a pint of whisky was spared jail yesterday so she can keep her job.



Katherine Goldberg, 25, groped the airline steward during a flight from Johannesburg to London.

Goldberg was given a community order after the judge was told any prison sentence would mean she would not be allowed to teach again.

In court: Katherine Goldberg avoided a jail sentence despite admitting to sexually assaulting an air steward during a return flight to the UK

In mitigation, Isleworth Crown Court was told that Goldberg from Ealing, west London was convinced that the man was her boyfriend as a result of her 'alcohol-induced illusion'.

‘I would be wrong to impose a lifetime punishment by preventing you working in a profession where you clearly have talent,’ said Judge Andrew McDowall at Isleworth Crown Court, West London.

A prison sentence or a community order longer than 12 months would have meant Goldberg would have had to sign the sex offender register – meaning she could not work with children.

South African-born Goldberg was returning on a Virgin Atlantic flight from visiting relatives on August 24.



An earlier hearing was told she had drunk at least half a litre of whisky as well as wine.

She made a sexual suggestion to a flight attendant trying to look after her and ‘at one point sat on his lap and grabbed hold of his genitals through his trousers.’

South African-born Goldberg was returning on a Virgin Atlantic flight from visiting relatives on August 24.



She told police she had a drink problem and admitted being drunk on a plane and indecent assault. She was fined £1,500 and ordered to do 80 hours community work.

She has been suspended since the sex assault and her lawyers claimed she was liable to be struck off if she was jailed or placed on the sex offenders' register.

The court heard Goldberg had downed 'at least 50 centilitres of whisky' when the incident took place.

Support: Goldberg (centre) leaves Isleworth Crown Court with her parents after sentencing for groping a male air steward whilst drunk on an aircraft

Prosecutor James O'Connell said at first her behaviour on the flight was described by witnesses as 'very irritating' because she disturbed them while they were trying to rest.

She was eventually moved to the plane's galley where one member of the cabin crew 'took an interest in her care' and tried to calm her down.

Mr O'Connell went on: 'However, it was at this point that the defendant's antics changed and became rather sexual.

'She sat on his lap and grabbed hold of his genitalia through his trousers.'

She also spoke to the man suggestively and kept 'making offers to him', the court heard.

She was heard to tell the air steward: 'Let me and you go somewhere. You can touch me anywhere you want, I don't mind.'

Mr O'Connell said Goldberg was also heard to say the names of two men.

He added: 'In her complete alcoholic funk she was confusing him with her current boyfriend, Clayton, and Owen, a previous boyfriend.

'She was somehow imagining this was her boyfriend with whom she was interacting.'

Goldberg eventually went to sleep for around an hour but then woke up and continued to be loud and disruptive, the court was told.

Eventually she slept again, and remained asleep until the plane landed at Heathrow and she was met by police.

Mr O'Connell said she was 'very co-operative' with the officers who questioned her, and admitted she had no recollection of events on board the plane but was very apologetic.

The total amount that she had drunk was not mentioned in court but it was believed she consumed her own alcohol that she had taken on board, rather than that supplied by cabin crew.

In air: Goldberg assaulted the male crew member on a Virgin Atlantic flight from Johannesburg, South Africa to London Heathrow

The air steward she sexually assaulted, who cannot be named for legal reasons, was said to have been unaffected by the incident.

In mitigation, Johnathan Goldberg QC, for the defence, who is not related to his client, said the case was a 'man bites dog situation'.



He added that it involved 'a very attractive young lady who acts totally out of character and commits a very minor offence'.

He told the court the defendant had shown genuine remorse over the incident and had been abstinent ever since.



He asked the judge not to give her a custodial sentence as it could jeopardise her career.



He told the court that Goldberg was returning from visiting her boyfriend and grandparents in South Africa after going there to celebrate the end of her teaching exams.



Passing sentence, Judge Andrew McDowall said it was clear that none of the other passengers had been in any danger during the flight and Goldberg did not have to be restrained at any stage.



Addressing her, he said: 'You have the misfortune to suffer from a problem with alcohol and, as has been made plain, it is a matter from which your mother unfortunately suffers from as well.



'You have now reached that vital stage of acknowledging that you have a problem and also showing a willingness to do something about it.'



He added: 'It is quite apparent that you are not a menace to children', and said he hoped she would be allowed to continue to teach despite the sexual assault conviction.

The court was told that Goldberg has since admitted to having an alcohol problem and now attends Alcoholics Anonymous meetings five times a week.

She also went on a one-month residential course after realising she had hit 'rock bottom'.