A prominent architect who previously met the King and the Princess of Wales has been convicted of drunkenly assaulting a cabin crew member on a Heathrow-bound flight from Dubai.
Simone de Gale, 44, was found guilty of four offences after failing to attend her trial at Ealing Magistrates' Court, where magistrates issued a warrant for her arrest.
She launched a foul-mouthed tirade against cabin staff after being asked not to pass a narrow part of the plane containing a sleeping nine-month-old baby.
Cabin crew member Sarah Buckland told the court that De Gale said: “I'm an architect and you're just an air hostess," and accused Ms Buckland of racism.
Fellow crew member Ellie Mallen said De Gale exclaimed: "You would never ask a white person," to not use part of the aircraft.
De Gale continued her foul-mouthed tirade before jabbing her finger in Ms Buckland's chest and grabbing the top of her cardigan.
The founder of Simone de Gale Architects was convicted of assaulting the Virgin Atlantic crew member Ms Buckland during the flight on February 5.
She was also found guilty of being drunk on the aircraft and using threatening or abusive behaviour towards cabin crew.
Several passengers giving evidence said that De Gale repeatedly swore at staff, calling them "f------ air stewardesses".
Simone de Gale, 44, was found guilty of the charges in her absence
Metropolitan Police/the Press Association
Ms Buckland told the court that the altercation had left her very shaken.
Passenger Jenna Louise Robert gave evidence that De Gale also said to cabin crew: "I earn lots of money, you're poor." She added: "This went on for 10 mins."
In footage of her arrest at Heathrow Airport, released by the Crown Prosecution Service, de Gale told officers “I’ve not touched anyone or anything”, adding: “I recorded everything on a video.”
The arresting officer from the Metropolitan Police said that De Gale had been slurring her words, had stumbled and smelled of alcohol during the time she was being detained at London Heathrow.
After being told she was being placed under arrest, she replied: “I don’t think that’s possible.”
An arrest warrant was issued for de Gale, of Notting Hill, west London, after she failed to attend her court appearance, the force said.
The architect’s LinkedIn page says she is head of planning for the Belgravia Society “with regards to all Belgravia related planning matters with Westminster City Council and the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea”.
She was found guilty of behaving in a threatening, abusive, insulting or disorderly manner towards a member of aircraft crew; being drunk in an aircraft; using threatening or abusive words or behaviour likely to cause harassment, alarm or distress; and assault by beating.