A handcuffed sex criminal spat on British families while being deported from the UK on a budget holiday flight to Turkey.

Holidaymakers travelling on a Wizz Air service from London to Istanbul last Wednesday watched in disbelief as the scenes unfolded at Gatwick Airport.

The man - understood to be a Turkish national being deported after serving a prison sentence in Britain - was hauled from a van and forced onto the aircraft by officials in high-vis jackets.

Dramatic footage captured the detainee struggling violently as he was dragged up the aeroplane stairs and into the rear of the Airbus cabin before take-off. Witnesses said he repeatedly shouted 'No, no' while officials attempted to restrain him.

Among those on board were newly-engaged couple Kevin Leeson and Dawn Thomas, both 50, from Bristol, who had been travelling to Istanbul for a romantic getaway.