A 45 year old man has been found guilty of attempting to rape a Scottish woman on an Easyjet flight.
The Italian native, Nicola Cristiano, 45, moved seats to sit beside the woman — who for legal reasons cannot be named — during an overnight journey from Naples to Edinburgh on 13 May.
After offering the woman — born in 1993 and from Aberdeenshire — wine, he attempted to force her hand and head toward his exposed groin, the court heard.
The prosecution stated that all the actions occurred without the woman’s consent, a claim supported by a witness seated in the row behind.
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The court heard that Cristiano then beckoned on the woman to accompany him to the toilet.
She told the court that she initially indicated she would enter the cubicle with him, but when he went inside, she reported the incident to the cabin crew, who then prevented him from leaving the toilet.
A cabin crew member told the court that the woman appeared visibly distressed when she reported being sexually assaulted.
Judge Alison Stirling remanded Cristiano in custody and ordered that background reports be prepared ahead of his sentencing at the High Court in Edinburgh on 6 February.
In court, Cristiano admitted to having a sexual encounter with the woman.
“She provoked me. She excited me.” He said.
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