Nicola Cristiano, a 45-year-old man, has been sentenced to six years in prison for trying to sexually assault a woman during an easyJet flight between Italy and Britain.
The assault took place on the evening of May 13, 2025, when Cristiano intentionally relocated to sit beside the victim. During the flight from Naples to Edinburgh, he made multiple attempts to force the woman to touch his exposed genitalia by repeatedly grabbing her hand and neck.
The horrifying act culminated in the discovery of Cristiano's semen on the victim's cheek and lip.
The Italian national, who was on a work trip to Scotland, also attempted to kiss the woman and touch her breasts and body.
After Cristiano changed seats, the victim informed the cabin crew about the incident, leading to his arrest upon landing.
A trial held at the High Court in Edinburgh last month resulted in a guilty verdict for attempted rape.
Cristiano's defense lawyer, Jim Stephenson, acknowledged in court that his client recognized the victim's repeated 'no' but claimed that he maintained his innocence concerning the more severe aspects of the accusation.
Judge Alison Stirling handed down a six-year prison sentence, stipulating that upon completion, Cristiano would be deported to Italy, where he would be subject to notification requirements indefinitely.
In her remarks, Judge Stirling highlighted the long-lasting impact of the assault on the victim, noting that the incident had significantly altered her sense of security and control.
The woman expressed her discomfort with flying alone and stated that she planned to cancel an upcoming holiday due to the trauma caused by this incident.
Adding further context, Judge Stirling mentioned that despite being surrounded by others during the assault, the victim felt isolated, a factor that has contributed to her distress.
'Every flight will now remind her of this experience, which she believes will have a lingering impact on her life,' the judge stated.
Moreover, from a report provided by criminal justice social work, it was noted that Cristiano had not accepted the guilty finding.
'Given the severity of the crime, prison time was the only fitting punishment,' Judge Stirling concluded.
She added that the reasons for the sentence encompass punishment, societal condemnation of such behavior, public protection, and the opportunity for rehabilitation while in custody.
In a statement following the conviction, Detective Chief Inspector Steph Garnett from Police Scotland's public protection division remarked, 'Cristiano will now face the repercussions of his reprehensible actions, and I hope this provides some solace to the victim.
'He intentionally targeted a woman traveling alone and subjected her to sexual assault, but fortunately, she was able to alert the cabin crew and was subsequently moved to a safe area of the plane.
'I hope this conviction encourages any victims of sexual offenses to come forward. We are committed to thoroughly investigating such reports and have specially trained officers to provide necessary support.'
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