Jockey Timmy Murphy has been jailed for six months for indecently assaulting a stewardess and being drunk on board an aircraft.

The 27-year-old, from Faringdon, Oxfordshire, who won last year's Irish Grand National, pleaded guilty to the offences during a hearing at Isleworth Crown Court on Tuesday.

He was jailed for six months for the assault during a Virgin flight from Tokyo to Heathrow on 14 April.

He was also given a three-month sentence to run concurrently for being drunk.

Heavy drinking

Judge John Crocker ordered the jockey, who has a partner and young child, to remain on the sex offenders' register for the next five years.

Simon Connolly, prosecuting, said that Murphy had been drinking heavily in the club lounge before boarding flight BS901.

He then continued to drink vodka and orange in the first class cabin.

Mr Connolly said that another passenger had described his manner as "loud but not a nasty drunk".

But during the flight the national hunt jockey became abusive to one of the female attendants who became concerned by his aggressive behaviour, the court heard.

Mr Connolly said the jockey then sat on another passenger's lap with his legs blocking the aisle.

Repeated apology

He was asked to move by the stewardess but grabbed her leg and indecently assaulted her, Mr Connolly said.

The woman was left "extremely shocked and in tears over what had happened".

Murphy was then seen to urinate against the flight deck door before falling asleep for the remainder of the flight, said Mr Connolly.

He was arrested on his arrival at Heathrow and told officers that he could not remember what had happened because he had been drunk.

He has apologised repeatedly for his behaviour, the court was told.