A SHAMED Royal Marine was so drunk he had to be removed from a passenger flight before hurling abuse at a policeman and spitting in his face.

Commando Conor Carey, 23, spat at the officer, PC Mann, and verbally abused him after he was removed from the Norwegian Airlines aircraft when he landed at Gatwick and was arrested for being drunk on a plane.

Carey was returning home from a training course in Norway to attend his grandfather’s funeral, magistrates were told.

Carey, who was up for promotion, appeared “highly intoxicated” and barely able to stand after bingeing from a bottle of vodka he bought at the airport.

Concerned cabin crew called police at 2.35pm when the flight touched down from Norway on Tuesday, January 28.

Officers were initially lenient with Carey, who was accompanied by a Royal Marine captain, but he later told officers to f***off and was arrested.

Once in a police car, Carey headbutted the seat, spat in an officer’s face as he tried to contain him and wet himself.

Carey, based at a RM Condor in Arbroath, Scotland, hung his head when he appeared in the dock at Crawley Magistrates’ Court.

The court heard he has lost his chance of a promotion and was deeply ashamed, particularly for spitting at a fellow man in uniform.

Carey pleaded guilty to being drunk on an aircraft, assaulting a police officer by beating and criminal damage.

Martina Sherlock, prosecuting, said: “Police were contacted by the crew of a Norwegian Airlines flight that had just landed at Gatwick Airport from Norway.

“They contained a male on board because they were concerned.

“The officers noted that he appeared to be highly intoxicated, that he could barely stand and was being verbally abusive.

“He then told officers to ‘f*** off’ a number of times and at 4.50pm he was arrested for being drunk on an aircraft.

“There was another person who identified himself as a Royal Marines captain.

“During the journey Mr Carey was forcing mucous from his nose to the car seat. He was asked a number of times to stop but gave the response ‘f*** off’.

“...He looked at PC Mann, called the officer a c*** and filled his mouth with mucous and spat in the officer’s face. The officer said he was covered in spit with some going into his eyes and mouth.”

Carey had been returning from a training exercise in Norway to attend his grandfather’s funeral who died at Christmas.

When interviewed by police, Carey admitted the charges - but said he had no recollection of spitting at an officer or urinating in the police car which he did involuntarily.

Ms Sherlock said: “He apologised and was remorseful, saying he was disgusted with himself, the most shocking part being that he had spat at the officer.”

Adam James, in mitigation, said Carey has already lost a promotion and could lose his dream career if handed a custodial sentence and asked magistrates to consider a financial penalty.

He said the Marine had been given compassionate leave to attend his grandad’s funeral which came around the anniversary of his brother’s death.

Mr James said: “When interviewed by police he expressed sincere, heartfelt remorse remorse and deep shame.

“He wears a uniform in a different capacity and it is not behaviour he would want on himself and therefore to have done it on somebody else is mortifying.

“What makes this so disappointing for all concerned is he has been in the Marines a short time, four years, but by all accounts seems to be progressing very well.

“He is up for promotion and those who supervise him speak very highly of him.

“There will be an automatic career check, he will have promotion blocked for 12 months.

“For a young man at the start of his career path it is a long time, bearing in mind he was up for promotion.”

Carey was ordered to pay a total of £947 in fines and charges, including £200 compensation to PC Mann, £200 in damages to a Sussex Police vehicle and court costs.