A Cambridge lecturer who advised the UN on migration and refugees has avoided jail time after a drunken incident on a British Airways flight from Cairo to Heathrow on July 15. Dr. Adam Coutts, 48, was sentenced at Uxbridge Magistrates' Court on August 21.

During the flight, Coutts called passenger Hammad Aziz a "jihadist," told him to "shave his beard," and suggested he "go to Birmingham to blow yourself up." The court heard that Coutts also accused Mr. Aziz and his wife, Fatima Hashim, of being in an illegal marriage. When challenged about his racist remarks, Coutts became aggressive and grabbed Mr. Aziz's phone, refusing to return it and stating, "I don't legally need to give it back. I am a doctor, I need the police here."

Mr. Aziz, in a victim personal statement read to the court, described the incident as "shocking and distressing" and expressed fear for his and his wife's safety, noting that the comments were targeted because they were visibly Muslim. He stated, "He attacked me because of my heritage."

Coutts, who holds a doctorate in philosophy and has lectured in public policy at Cambridge, also served as a Senior Research Fellow at Magdalene College, though he is understood to not have lectured there since 2022. His defense stated that he has been undergoing treatment for alcohol abuse, depression, anxiety, and bipolar disorder, with doctors noting he had not received adequate help for his mental health struggles.

Judge Mohammed Bashir acknowledged Coutts's "substantial personal mitigation" and that the incident was a "marked departure from your previous good character." He sentenced Coutts to 16 months' imprisonment, suspended for 18 months, for racially aggravated harassment, common assault, criminal damage, and being drunk on a plane. Coutts admitted to these charges.

Additionally, Coutts was ordered to pay £150 in compensation to Ms. Hashim and £150 to Mr. Aziz for mental stress and anxiety. He also owes £400 for the damaged phone. A fine of £1,000 for being drunk on board, £350 for criminal damage, and a £154 victim surcharge brought his total fines and compensation to £2,204.

Coutts has a job offer in Saudi Arabia and frequently travels to visit his wife and two sons in Cairo, which has been put on hold due to these proceedings.