Drunk dad fined for groping air hostess in Queensland

A Queensland man who had to be escorted off a flight after groping an airline hostess while "heavily intoxicated" has been fined thousands of dollars and placed on two years' probation.

Timothy Desmond Clifton Croft, 39 was convicted of a number of offences in Rockhampton Magistrates Court on Monday, The Morning Bulletin reports.

The single father of three was "heavily intoxicated" when he boarded a flight at Brisbane at 3pm on April 17, the court heard.

Once on board the 39-year-old rubbed a female flight attendant's arm and said "hello gorgeous" to her, Prosecutor Clancy Fox said.

"This made her uncomfortable as he did not have permission to touch anyone on board, especially flight staff," he told the court.

Croft had originally been seated next to an unaccompanied female minor but crew members concerned by his behaviour asked him to move.

He was later asked to leave the flight altogether but refused to, leading to the intervention of police.

However, Croft who later gave a blood-alcohol reading of 0.218, continued to resist his arresting officers and threatened an airline supervisor saying he would "get him" if the pair ever crossed paths.

Croft was convicted of a number of offences including, being an intoxicated person on an aircraft, disorderly behaviour on an aircraft, obstructing a Commonwealth official and assault of a member of the air crew.

Magistrate Micahel O'Driscoll ordered the father to pay a $1000 fine for each offence and placed him on two year's probation.

Croft's lawyer Joanne Madden said he was remorseful for his actions.

"He got to the airport two hours early and was drinking at the bar. He has admitted to having a problem with alcohol and would like to seek help for that," she said.

"The behaviour was unusual for him and he regrets his actions."