LEADING jump jockey Timmy Murphy has been jailed for six months for indecently assaulting a flight attendant and being drunk on board an aircraft.

The 27-year-old, from Faringdon, who won last year's Irish Grand National, pleaded guilty to the two offences when he appeared at Isleworth Crown Court in west London.

Murphy, who has a partner and young child, was jailed for six months for assaulting the air stewardess on the Virgin flight from Tokyo to Heath-row on April 14 this year and three months for being drunk on board the aircraft. The sentences are to run concurrently.

Judge John Crocker also ordered the jockey to remain on the sex offenders' register for the next five years.

Simon Connolly, prosecuting, said Murphy had been drinking heavily in the Virgin club lounge before boarding Flight BS901 and then had 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 nasty.

During the flight, however, the national hunt jockey called one of the female attendants a whinger and she became concerned by the aggressive turn of his behaviour, the court heard.

Mr Connolly said around 20 minutes after his insult the jockey then sat on another passenger's lap with his legs blocking the aisle.

When the stewardess asked him to move, Mr Connolly said: "He grabbed her leg and quickly moved his hand up her skirt and touched her improperly."

The woman, who informed her supervisor and the captain, was left, "extremely shocked and in tears over what had happened," Mr Connolly said.

Murphy was then seen to urinate against the flight deck door before falling asleep for the duration of the flight.

Robin Leach, defending, told the court: "Clearly Mr Murphy's behaviour was unacceptable on that flight and he acknowledges that by his pleas."

He told the court Murphy clearly had a, "drink problem that goes back a number of years".

Trainer Mark Pitman described Murphy as "an exceptional talent".

Jailing Murphy, Judge Crocker said: "It's a tragedy to see a successful man from any profession standing in the dock of a crown court.

"It seems clear to me that you must have known you had a problem with drink.

"I accept totally that there are great pressures on jump jockeys but there is also great pressures on cabin staff on long-distance flights."

Murphy remained impassive as he was led from the dock.