This Is Guernsey

By Joel de Woolfson

Kate Lawler on the decks at Fusion, the purpose of her visit to Guernsey.

BIG BROTHER winner Kate Lawler was ordered to leave the toilet on a Flybe flight from Guernsey to Gatwick after she took her boyfriend into the cubicle, according to an eyewitness.

The incident followed a row at Guernsey Airport during which the reality TV star-turned-DJ apparently shouted and swore at security personnel after she was refused permission to carry her record case as hand luggage.

Miss Lawler, who was in the island to DJ at new club Fusion on Saturday night, denied the allegations through her manager.

But Emma Wilcockson, a local student who lives in Brighton, says she saw Miss Lawler arguing with security staff and sat directly behind her on the flight. She said the celebrity’s behaviour had been appalling.

‘I got to departures and caught the tail end of an argument Kate had been having with a member of staff working at the X-ray scanner.’

The 26-year-old said the winner of Big Brother 3 then pushed her way back through the queue, heading for check-in and shouting that the member of staff was on a ‘power trip’ – while also using foul language. ‘I then saw the G4S lady at the scanner, who was standing there rather stunned,’ she said. ‘She told me, “I’m only doing my job. I said her record case was too big and that she’d have to check it in and she went mad”.’

Shortly after take-off, Miss Wilcockson said she saw Miss Lawler, 29, walk towards the toilet at the front of the plane.

A man Miss Wilcockson took to be the DJ’s boyfriend followed and the pair entered the cubicle together, the eyewitness said.

‘Someone on the flight must have tipped off the cabin crew because one of the female crew went to knock on the door and get them out and then they came out giggling,’ she said.

Miss Lawler’s manager, Chris Barratt, dismissed the claims.

‘We find it highly amusing, especially the bit in the toilet because Kate is one of the most nervous flyers – she hardly gets out of her seat,’ he said. ‘It’s not true and we are just having a good chuckle about it.’

Flybe said it could not discuss reports relating to individual passengers. However, it released a statement after investigating the allegations.

‘The travel experience reflects every spectrum of life and flying is no exception. Flybe confirms that it does not encourage more than one person to use on-board facilities and our staff are highly trained to swiftly and courteously stop any inappropriate behaviour displayed during any of its flights for the comfort and safety of its remaining passengers.’

Fusion owner Adam Burroughs had not heard about the incident.

‘But the gig she played was fantastic, it was a really good night.’

Article posted on 9th December, 2009 - 2.30pm