Former Page Three model and 1980s pop icon Samantha Fox appeared in Uxbridge Magistrates’ Court on Monday following a drunken incident on a British Airways flight that resulted in a significant delay and threats directed at police officers. The 58-year-old, who gained fame as a model in The Sun and later as a singer, pleaded guilty to charges of being drunk and disorderly, as well as using threatening behavior towards a police constable.
Samantha Fox arrives at Uxbridge Magistrates’ Court (Jonathan Brady/PA)
The court heard that the incident occurred on December 3, 2023, as Fox was preparing to fly from London to Hamburg. Prosecutors revealed that flight staff were first alerted to Fox’s erratic behavior at the airport around 7 pm, where she was seen arguing with gate staff and displaying signs of intoxication. Witnesses described her as “walking and behaving strangely” with slurred speech and the strong smell of alcohol.
Fox’s behavior escalated on the plane, where she began “rocking back and forth in her chair, headbutting the seat in front of her.” This erratic conduct, coupled with confrontational interactions with her wife, Linda Olsen, prompted the flight crew to return the aircraft to the gate before takeoff.
When the police arrived to remove Fox from the flight, it became evident that she was heavily intoxicated. Prosecutors noted that Fox was “rude and argumentative” with officers, escalating to verbal abuse as she was escorted out of the airport. Security footage presented in court captured Fox threatening the officers, including telling one, “I know where you live, I’ll knock your teeth out,” and using other expletive-laden insults.
One officer, Pc Ashley Smith, provided a witness statement, describing the abuse as “the most long and most disgusting I have been subjected to” in his 10-year career. The abusive tirade reportedly lasted over two hours, with Fox making repeated threats and insults.
Uxbridge Magistrates Court
Fox, who had initially faced charges of assaulting her wife, saw those charges dropped due to insufficient evidence. However, she admitted to the lesser charges of being drunk and disorderly and using threatening behavior. During her court appearance, Fox expressed remorse for the incident, citing depression, ADHD, and severe anxiety as contributing factors. Her defense also noted that she was experiencing knee pain and stress due to leaving her mother for the first time since taking on an extended caregiving role.
The flight was delayed by 12 hours due to the incident, affecting 162 adult passengers and four children. As a result, British Airways reported a financial loss of £1,718.09, with 42 passengers filing compensation claims.
Sentencing:
Fox, who appeared on the court list as Samantha Olson Fox, will be sentenced later on Monday. The former model, who transitioned to a music career in the 1980s with hits like “Touch Me (I Want Your Body)” and “Nothing’s Gonna Stop Me Now,” is facing the possibility of fines or further legal consequences due to her actions.
