A Ryanair passenger ‘grabbed’ the genitals of a male flight attendant and asked ‘are you gay?’, a court heard.

Thomas Sleigh, 45, was found guilty of sexually assaulting the cabin crew member during a trip from Murcia to Manchester - despite claiming that it was an accident.

He could be ordered to sign the sex offenders register when he is sentenced later this month, after being convicted following a trial.

Prosecuting, Nicole Durham told how Sleigh and members of his family, including his wife and daughter, were travelling back from a week’s holiday in the Spanish resort on September 7 last year.

The court heard how Sleigh, who had drunk three cans of beer before the flight, became known to the cabin crew after they spotted his daughter drinking alcohol not purchased on the plane.

The victim was collecting magazines when he challenged the group at about 5.45pm, standing next to Sleigh in order to collect the can.

But Sleigh, who was sat in the aisle seat then ‘grabbed’ his genitals and ‘flicked’ them, according to prosecutors.

Sleigh was then said to have asked the victim ‘are you gay?’ before gesticulating and putting his middle finger up at him.

Giving evidence in court, the victim said: “I didn’t answer his question. I stepped back in shock.

“I said: ‘Don’t ever touch me in that area ever again’.”

The victim was left shaking following the incident, Ms Durham said.

Sleigh’s daughter then said: ‘He is joking, he is joking’, the court heard.

The victim, who gave evidence to the trial behind a screen, replied: “So you think it’s a joke to be touched in that area? How would you like it?”

When the plane landed in Manchester police boarded and arrested Sleigh.

Ms Durham said: “This person has been targeted because of his perceived sexuality.”

When interviewed he admitted touching the victim’s groin area, but claimed it was an accident and that It was not a sexual act.

The victim told the court the incident lasted for about 30 seconds.

Defending, Shane O’Neill said Sleigh, of Elizabeth Avenue, Stockport, had been rowing with his wife and that she had elbowed him.

Sleigh was resting his head on his hand, and he claimed that this caused him to accidentally touch the victim’s groin.

The father told the court that he had no problem with gay people because his son is homosexual.

However, chair of the bench Lorraine Lighton said she did not believe Sleigh’s account of the incident.

She said: “We find that you deliberately grabbed the complainant in the genital area and did shout ‘are you gay’ and gesticulate towards him.”

Sleigh, who works as a supervisor cleaning ambulances and has a previous conviction for fraud, was found guilty of one count of sexual assault.

He was granted unconditional bail and will be sentenced in the same court on March 23.