Sentence Reduced for Man Convicted Over Attempted Rape on EasyJet Flight

A man convicted of attempting to rape a female passenger aboard an EasyJet flight from Naples, Italy to Edinburgh, Scotland has had his prison sentence reduced on appeal.

Nicola Cristiano, 46, was originally sentenced to six years in prison in February 2026 after being found guilty of sexually assaulting and attempting to rape a woman during the late-evening flight on 13 May 2025.

According to court proceedings, Cristiano repeatedly grabbed the victim by the hand and neck, exposed himself, attempted to force her into sexual acts, and repeatedly ignored her refusals. The victim managed to discreetly alert the cabin crew after Cristiano entered the aircraft lavatory. Flight attendants acted quickly, preventing him from leaving the restroom until police met the aircraft upon arrival in Edinburgh.

The victim later described the devastating impact of the attack, saying she no longer feels safe flying or traveling alone and has even canceled future holiday plans due to the trauma.

On appeal, judges at Scotland’s High Court ruled that while the offence remained extremely serious, the original six-year sentence was “excessive to a limited extent.” They reduced Cristiano’s prison term to five years, noting that he was a first-time offender, though emphasizing the gravity of the crime.