A flight was forced to turn round after a drunken father-of-two spat at cabin crew, threatened to kill fellow passengers and urinated on seats.

Robert Russell's behaviour was so bad on the Gatwick to Spain flight that a judge yesterday warned he faced jail.

Russell, 48, of Dobson Road, Langley Green, Crawley, repeatedly swore and even grabbed one passenger by the throat.

The captain of the Monarch flight ZB742 to Malaga decided to turn the plane round at a cost of £4,643 after Russell was restrained as he marched towards the plane's exit.

At Brighton Crown Court Russell admitted endangering the safety of an aircraft.

The court was told Russell boarded the Airbus on October 15 last year, but within minutes of take off the former Royal Mail worker started causing trouble.

He was swearing loudly and cabin crew believed he was drunk.

Other passengers sitting near his seat asked to move.

Gail Purdy, prosecuting, said Russell started screaming and shouted at a member of the crew: "Oi, blondie. Come and sit here so I can stroke you."

When she declined and asked him to keep the noise down, he swore at her.

He started to grab crew members and swear at them.

He was served with a notice of unacceptable behaviour by crew but he gave them more abuse.

He then started pushing forward the seat in front so the passenger was forced to bend forward.

Ms Purdy said: "He started screaming again and then began spitting. Some spittle landed on a member of the cabin crew."

She said he continued to shout abuse at passengers and crew and began telling passengers they would be killed.

Russell got up and began walking towards the exit and it was then decided to restrain him and divert the plane.

During the struggle Russell grabbed one of the passengers by the throat.

When the plane landed crew discovered he had urinated all over the seats around him.

Ms Purdy said members of the crew were traumatised by his behaviour.

One member of staff said they had not experienced anything like it in 13 years of flying.

After he was arrested Russell said he had drunk a quarter bottle of vodka and two beers and could not remember anything about the flight.

Christopher Rodwell, defending, said Russell felt shame and remorse for his behaviour, which had been out of character.

He said: "He is totally devastated, ashamed and so sorry. He wishes to apologise to every member of staff and the passengers on the plane that day."

Mr Rodwell said Russell had been looking forward to the flight because he was travelling to Malaga to meet a friend who had offered him work as a chef.

Unemployed Russell was released on bail until May 1 when he will be sentenced.

Judge Richard Hayward warned him he faces a jail sentence.

He said: "This was a serious and extremely disturbing incident."