Lawyer jailed for spitting at Air India crew found dead days after leaving prison

A HUMAN RIGHTS lawyer who was jailed for spitting at and racially abusing Air India crew members was on June 1 found dead at the foot of Beachy Head days after leaving prison.

Simone Burns was sentenced to six months in April for racially attacking Air India crew during a flight from Mumbai last year. She was found dead less than two weeks after being released from Bronzefield women's prison.

A spokesman for Sussex Police said: "The body of a woman found at Beachy Head on June 1 has been identified as Simone Burns from Hove. The death is not being treated as suspicious and next of kin have been informed. The matter has been passed to the coroner's officer."

A friend said Burns' life "fell apart" following her conviction and time in prison.

Burns, also known as Simone O’Broin, abused Air India staff on a flight from Mumbai to London on November 11 after she was denied alcohol.

She was served three bottles of wine with breakfast “immediately” after taking off from Mumbai, and she began swearing when she was denied more.

Prosecuting at her trial, Lauren Smith said: "She got up from her seat and began swearing and shouting. She was shouting that she was a 'f****** international lawyer' and telling them to 'f*** off'."

Burns shouted: "I have done so much for you f****** Indians and f****** Pakistanis, you should be grateful to me."

Burns also spat in the face of a cabin supervisor when he tried to intervene.

During the flight, the 50-year-old from Hove also smoked a cigarette in the toilets.

She was arrested after the flight touched down in London.

Sentencing Simone Burns at Isleworth crown court, judge Nicholas Wood said: “The experience of a drunk and irrational person in the confines of an aircraft is frightening, not least on a long-haul flight and poses a potential risk to safety.”

The judge noted that “such offences are often committed by people of impeccable character” and added that “spitting straight into a crew member’s face at close range is a particularly insulting and upsetting act”.