A man has been handed a six-year prison sentence for attempting to rape a woman during an EasyJet flight bound for the United Kingdom, in a case that has highlighted the profound and enduring trauma experienced by victims of airborne assaults.
Details of the Assault and Trial
Nicola Cristiano, a 45-year-old Italian national and father-of-two, committed the offence on the evening of May 13 last year aboard a flight travelling from Naples to Edinburgh. The court heard that Cristiano, who was on a work trip, repeatedly grabbed the woman by her hand and neck in an effort to force her to touch his exposed crotch.
During the assault, which occurred in a public setting surrounded by other passengers, Cristiano also attempted to kiss the victim and touch her breast and body. Forensic evidence presented at trial revealed that his semen was later found on her cheek and lip, providing crucial physical corroboration of the attack.
Court Proceedings and Sentencing
Following a trial at the High Court in Edinburgh last month, Cristiano was found guilty of attempting to rape the woman. Sentencing him at the same court, judge Alison Stirling delivered a six-year custodial sentence, emphasising that custody represented the only appropriate response given the serious nature of the offending.
Judge Stirling referenced a victim impact statement submitted to the court, revealing the devastating psychological consequences for the woman. "The complainer says the assault has left a lasting effect on her sense of safety and control," the judge stated. "She doesn’t feel comfortable flying and travelling alone any more. She had planned another holiday this year but she doesn’t want to go on it any more."
The judge further noted that the public nature of the assault, despite the victim feeling completely isolated at the time, had been particularly damaging, with the woman believing the experience would always have a lasting effect on her.
Judicial Reasoning and Additional Measures
In her sentencing remarks, Judge Stirling outlined multiple reasons for the prison term, including punishment, expressing society's disapproval of such offences, protection of the public, and rehabilitation during custody. She also noted from a criminal justice social work report that Cristiano had not accepted the guilty verdict.
The court imposed significant additional measures beyond the prison sentence. Judge Stirling informed Cristiano that he would be deported to Italy once he had completed his custodial term. Furthermore, he will be subject to notification requirements for an indefinite period, meaning he must regularly report his whereabouts and circumstances to authorities.
Defence Position and Courtroom Demeanour
During the proceedings, Cristiano's lawyer, Jim Stephenson, told the court that his client accepted the complainant "did say 'no' on a number of occasions, and (that) he did take her hand and place it on his penis." However, Stephenson maintained that Cristiano still denied the most serious aspects of the charge.
Cristiano, who appeared in court dressed in a black and gold bomber jacket with blue jeans and followed proceedings through an Italian interpreter, showed no visible reaction as the sentence was delivered. The case has drawn attention to the challenges of addressing sexual assaults in confined public spaces like aircraft cabins, where victims may feel particularly vulnerable despite the presence of other travellers.
