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A man accused of 'cupping' a male airline steward's groin on a boozy flight to Fuertaventura wept as he was cleared of sexual assault.

Joe Hirst, 22, was flying to the Canary islands with his girlfriend to celebrate his birthday.

But at 30,000 feet witnesses claimed he inexplicably reached out and fondled the steward's inside leg in a "cupping motion" as the victim was serving drinks to other passengers.

The steward, who cannot be named, rebuked Hirst for his behaviour but said he was met with a drunken grin and snigger by the unruly holidaymaker who also said: "Ooooohhh" to him in a flirtatious voice, a jury heard.

Hirst, of Brighouse, West Yorks, admitted drinking vodka and beer to "calm his nerves" as it was his first time in an aircraft.

(Image: Cavendish Press (Manchester) Ltd)

He was escorted off the Jet2 aircraft by Spanish Police when it touched down at Fuertaventura, and was arrested on suspicion of sexual assault when he arrived back in the UK after his holiday.

At Minshull Street Crown Court, Manchester, Hirst denied the charge claiming he never touched the steward and was cleared by a jury who took three hours and 18 minutes to deliberate.

As the not guilty verdict was returned, Hirst put his head in his hands and started crying whilst his girlfriend Shannon Potter and and two male friends shouted: "Get in."

Afterwards he said: "I just want it to get back to normal and how it was."

(Image: Cavendish Press (Manchester) Ltd)

The incident occurred on January 15 last year after Hurst, a driveway builder and his girlfriend of six months Miss Potter boarded the 10am flight from Manchester for the trip which had been booked for him as a birthday present.

It was alleged trouble began two and a half hours into the flight when Hirst kept putting his leg in the aisle causing an obstruction to cabin crew as they served drinks and snacks.

The steward - who cannot be named - told the hearing: "During the second bar service he began to reach with his arm as if getting something from the trolley and when I asked what he was doing he looked up and with the same hand he reached around and touched my thigh with an up ward stroking motion."

(Image: Cavendish Press (Manchester) Ltd)

I was facing towards the rear of the plane and he was on my left. He seemed to take it as a bit of a joke - there was a little laugh and snigger. He said the word: "Ooohhh" in a flirtatious voice and then went to touch my genital area.

"Initially I was totally shocked and I couldn't even think what had just happened. I said to him: "Do you think that is appropriate," and he responded with a snigger. I tried to carry on but my colleague told me to get off the bar and I went to the front of the aircraft where I told a senior member of crew what had happened."

But in his defence Hirst said: "I wouldn't say I was drunk, I was a bit merry - about a two or three on a scale of one to 10. I just didn't have enough room in my seat, I am 6ft and I cannot sit still half the time in general.

"I didn't realise I was being an obstruction - I didn't mean anything by it. On the drinks round, the male crew member tripped over my leg and said I shouldn't have done that, he seemed quite annoyed but that was the end of the incident.

(Image: Cavendish Press (Manchester) Ltd)

"I had only reached my arm out to get a drink because I was messing around. I didn't intend to touch him and I didn't touch him. My hand was a good foot away from him. When the Spanish police spoke to me after the flight I thought they wanted to speak to me about my foot. I had never been on a flight before."

Miss Potter 22, a care assistant said: "Joe had stuck his leg out three or four times because there was no leg room.

(Image: Cavendish Press (Manchester) Ltd)

"At one point, the male cabin crew member got to Joe's leg and stumbled back a few steps. He said to Joe: 'You shouldn't have done that,' and Joe said: 'Sorry, I didn't mean to do that.' Joe had been pointing towards a drink on the trolley, I didn't see him make any contact.

"When we left the plane we were wondering why the police had wanted to speak to us but I thought the allegation was about him sticking his leg out and the cabin crew member tripping over it."