A man accused of being an unruly passenger on a flight from the United Kingdom to Jamaica pleaded guilty with explanation and was fined when he appeared in the Corporate Area Resident Magistrate's Court yesterday.

The accused, Kingsley Brown, who has been living in that country, is to pay a fine of $10,000 or serve 30 days for his unruly behaviour, and $10,000 or 30 days for disobeying the crew.

Allegations are that on Friday, August 26, the accused was on board the flight when he failed to follow the instructions of crew-members.

"I was sleepwalking," he said in court.

Brown explained that shortly after receiving news that his mother was ill in Jamaica, he booked a flight to the island. He said that after receiving the news he was unable to sleep and a doctor prescribed some sleeping tablets for him.

He noted that before boarding the flight he took two of the pills, which he claims are strong enough to make him sleep for up to eight hours.

After boarding, he claimed to have explained the situation to the stewardess but she failed to give him the seat closest to the window.

He further explained that about two or three hours after the aircraft had taken off the passengers sitting beside him wanted to pass to go use the bathroom which, therefore, meant that he had to get up from where he was sitting.

"It's not like I broke anything or assaulted anyone ... I was not aware of what was happening because I was still sleeping. I was sleepwalking," he said.