Drunken diplomat arrested after flight disturbance

A drunken British diplomat was arrested at London’s Heathrow Airport following a disturbance on board a flight, it was confirmed today.

Defence attaché Colonel Peter Roberts spent Thursday night in the cells after police arrested him on board a plane from Bangkok, shortly after it touched down at Heathrow.

The 50-year-old colonel, who is based in the Thai capital, has been bailed until March 3.

A Scotland Yard spokesman said: “At approximately 17.30 on Thursday February 17 Heathrow police officers boarded an inbound flight following reports of a disturbance on board.

“A 50-year-old male passenger was arrested for being drunk on an aircraft and taken to a west London police station. He was bailed on February 18 to return to a west London police station on March 3.”

A Ministry of Defence spokesman confirmed Colonel Peter Roberts was arrested and that the flight was from Bangkok.

“We cannot comment further as an investigation is underway,” he said.

It has been reported the colonel had been involved in the relief effort following the December 26 tsunami disaster which devastated parts of western Thailand.