A PASSENGER caught after lighting up a cigarette on a long haul air flight abused a steward and told him he might "get a smack" a court was told.

Burnley magistrates heard how cabin crew on the Monarch airbus feared violence might erupt as John Michael Handley, 52 (pictured), became verbally threatening and the purser thought he would hit out.

His solicitor told the bench the defendant had found it difficult being deprived of nicotine and was not ready for the attendant's reaction after he had sneaked a "crafty drag" in the toilet.

Jobless Handley, met by police at Gatwick at the end of the journey from India, and who is currently on three years probation, including attendance on an anger management programme after a "road rage" affray some months before, had sentence deferred for one month until July 18.

The bench said they wanted to see if Handley was going to attend the course and they hoped to have satisfactory reports about him.

Handley, of Gisburn Road, Barrowford, had admitted smoking in a compartment of a UK registered aircraft and using threatening, abusive, or insulting words or behaviour, on December 1 1998. Robert Kearney, prosecuting, said cabin staff believed Handley was smoking in the aircraft toilet. A check was made before and after he used it and an attendant smelled tobacco smoke.

Handley became verbally aggressive when spoken to and the purser thought he would strike out.

Mr Kearney added the defendant had 63 previous convictions.

Andrew Church-Taylor, defending, said Handley had been on the flight for about 11 hours, the plane was full, and the atmosphere was hot, not conducive to the best tempers in anybody.

Handley found it difficult being deprived of nicotine. He suffered from hepatitis which occasionally left him feeling groggy.

Handley went to the toilet initially to have a few drags, put out his cigarette and returned to his seat. He was surrounded by four or five cabin staff and accepted he used language which was entirely inappropriate.

Mr Church-Taylor went on: "Given the court is dealing with offences from the end of 1998 and the middle of 1999, it would be a little harsh now to deprive the defendant of his liberty."