Passenger who tried to rape woman on EasyJet flight from Naples to Edinburgh jailed

A man who attempted to rape a fellow airline passenger onboard a Scotland-bound Easyjet flight has been jailed.

Nicola Cristiano targeted the woman, who cannot be named for legal reasons, whilst they both travelled on board a May 2025 flight between Naples and Edinburgh.

The woman told jurors at the High Court in Edinburgh how the 45-year-old sat beside her in the moments leading up to her being sexually assaulted.

The woman said that she drank some wine that Cristiano had offered to her, after which he exposed himself and tried to get her to touch his genitals and perform a sex act on him.

The woman said she repeatedly moved away and said no, but Cristiano did not stop. She also told him that she had a husband in a bid to stop him.

Cristiano then signalled for her to go to the toilet with him. She said she told him that she would follow him into the cubicle.

The court heard the woman say that when the accused went into the cubicle, she took the opportunity to tell the cabin crew about what had happened to her. Staff then prevented him from leaving the bathroom.

She told the court that she was “hysterical” and “crying” before being taken to the front of the plane.”

Cristiano admitted in evidence to having a sexual encounter with the woman and claimed the woman “provoked” him. He denied a charge of attempting to rape the woman whilst on board the Easyjet flight.

He was found guilty by the jury of sexually assaulting and attempting to rape the victim.

Judge Alison Stirling remanded Cristiano in custody after jurors returned a “non-unanimous” verdict – an expression introduced into Scots law following the recent abolition of the not proven verdict.

They deleted allegations from the charge that he seized and pulled the victim towards him, kissed her, and touched her breast and body.

Judge Stirling told jurors following the verdict: “It is inevitable that Mr Cristiano is going to be sentenced to a period in custody.”

The verdict came at the end of a three-day trial at the High Court in Edinburgh.

The judge placed Cristiano on the sex offenders’ register and adjourned sentence until February 6 at the High Court in Edinburgh. He was remanded in custody.

Judge Stirling said that following the abolition of the not proven verdict in the Scottish legal system, the jury was one of the first to return a verdict under the changed system.

She said: “I think you are participating in making history because today is the first day we are getting verdicts under our new system.”

Detective chief inspector Steph Garnett, from 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. Fortunately, she had an opportunity to alert a member of the cabin crew, and she was taken to another part of the plane where she was safe.

“I also hope this conviction gives confidence to anyone who is the victim of a sexual crime to come forward. We will thoroughly investigate reports made to us, and we have specially trained officers to provide support.

“Anyone wishing to report a sexual crime can do so via 101 or contact Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.”