Man jailed for sexually assaulting woman on EasyJet flight | News UK

An EasyJet passenger who tried to force a woman touch his exposed on a flight to the UK has been jailed for six years.

Nicola Cristiano, aged 45, committed the offence on a late-night flight from Naples to Edinburgh on May 13, 2025, after deliberately changing seats so he could sit beside the woman.

The Italian man repeatedly seized the victim’s hand and neck, attempting to make her touch his exposed groin. Subsequent tests revealed his semen on her cheek and lips.

Cristiano, a dad-of-two who was travelling to Edinburgh for work, also tried to kiss the woman and touch her body.

After he moved away to a different section of the aircraft, the woman reported the incident to the cabin crew.

Police arrested Cristiano when the plane arrived at Edinburgh Airport.

He was convicted of attempted rape following a trial at the High Court in Edinburgh last month.

Passing sentence at the same court on Friday, Judge Alison Stirling referenced a victim impact statement and addressed Cristiano directly, saying: ‘The complainer says the assault has left a lasting effect on her sense of safety and control.

‘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 continued: ‘The fact that it happened in a public setting surrounded by other people, even though she felt completely alone at the time, has been especially damaging for her.

‘She thinks this will always have a lasting effect on her.’

Judge Stirling also noted that a criminal justice social work report showed Cristiano had refused to accept the jury’s guilty verdict.

She added: ‘Custody is the only appropriate sentence with regard to the serious nature of the offending.

‘The reasons for the sentence include punishment, expressing society’s concerns about and disapproval of your offending, protection of the public, and rehabilitation in custody.’

The court was told that Cristiano will be deported to Italy after serving his prison term and will remain subject to notification requirements for an ‘indefinite period of time’.

He displayed no visible reaction as the sentence was imposed.

Earlier, defence solicitor Jim Stephenson told the court that his client acknowledged the complainer ‘did say “no” on a number of occasions, and (that) he did take her hand and place it on his penis’.

He added: ‘However Mr Cristiano still maintains his innocence in relation to the most serious parts of the charge.’

Following the conviction last month, Detective Chief Inspector Steph Garnett of Police Scotland’s public protection unit said: ‘Cristiano will now face the consequences of his despicable actions and I hope this brings comfort to his victim.

‘He deliberately approached a woman travelling alone on a flight and sexually assaulted her.’

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