Virgin air steward is arrested in Florida for ‘shoving’ a teenage girl he accused of queue jumping at Disney’s Magic Kingdom
A British air steward has been arrested in Florida for allegedly pushing a young girl he accused of jumping the queue at Disney’s Magic Kingdom.
Keith Newman, who worked as a flight attendant at Virgin Atlantic, is said to have pushed the 18-year-old girl while walking around her, causing her water to spill on her friend.
The 47-year-old man allegedly reached out his arm to stop the girl while she was waiting for Tiana’s Bayou Adventure ride, which is based on the Princess Tiana character from the Disney movie The Princess and the Frog.
The girl is said to have told Newman that the rest of her team was just ahead of her, but he insisted: ‘There’s a queue.’
Newman, who lived in a large detached house in Lemington, Newcastle, with his partner and fellow airline worker, was arrested on charges of assault and pleaded not guilty.
He was released on $1,000 bail and returned to England. He could face a fine or up to a year in prison.
The victim’s father today claimed Newman’s actions were ‘inexcusable’.
Speaking exclusively to the Daily Mail, he said: ‘I hope this sends the message that it is never appropriate to lay hands on another person, especially someone much younger than you and of the opposite sex, except in self-defence.
Keith Newman (pictured right), who works as a flight attendant for Virgin Atlantic, is said to have pushed the 18-year-old as he walked around her, causing her to spill her water on her friend.
The 47-year-old (pictured) was waiting for Tiana’s Bayou Adventure ride, based on the character Princess Tiana from the Disney movie The Princess and the Frog, and allegedly reached out her arm to stop the girl
‘My father and mother told me that it was never okay to lay hands on a woman.
‘My daughter is 18 years old but she looks 15 years old. He is 1.70 tall and weighs 120 kilos.
‘There is no mistaking that he was a child, so it was completely wrong for him to lay his hands on a child.
‘What he did is unforgivable.’
The incident occurred on February 20, according to an arrest affidavit filed in Orange County Court in Florida.
Officer Richard Schorr stated that the victim told him he was with a group of family and friends.
The girl said she was trying to “catch up with the rest of her group” who were already in line for the ride, the affidavit said.
The report stated: ‘The victim said that as he and his friend were walking past people, a man, now known as Keith Newman, put his hands out to block his progress.
‘He said he told her he was just trying to catch up to his group, who were not far ahead, and she still put out her hand to stop him.
‘He said he tried to get around Keith but Keith pushed him away with both hands.
‘He said he fell on his friend. ‘She was holding a water bottle in her hand and when the man pushed her back the water spilled everywhere (on her friend).’
The girl’s friend told police that Newman told them “there’s a line” when they tried to pass by.
The friend said Newman pushed the victim with one hand, but the woman wouldn’t let him move her, so he used both hands.
The father, who works at the resort, continued: ‘There’s never a time when no one misses the mark at Disney.
‘Usually someone goes to the toilet or gets water and comes back.
‘Most people just let them pass. Very few times anyone has challenged anyone, most people are just waiting their turn. Maybe this man doesn’t understand unwritten politeness.’
Asked by the Daily Mail about the case, Mr Newman said he was not aware of it at first.
But when he was shown a custody photo released by the Orange County Sheriff’s Department, he said: ‘Okay, but I don’t really want to talk about it.’
Standing next to his white Mercedes on his driveway, Mr. Newman said, as far as he was concerned, the legal case was over.
He confirmed he denied the accusations and added: ‘As far as I know, it’s been dealt with.’
The news of his arrest in the United States shocked neighbors.
One of them said: ‘There must have been a misunderstanding, it’s hard to believe.
‘I’ve never met a nicer pair of people in my entire life. I moved in 2022 and the day after I moved, there was a bunch of flowers waiting for me from them.
‘They are such a lovely, lovely couple. ‘He may have said something to stop her from getting in, but he would never push anyone on purpose.’
It is understood Mr Newman has now returned to full-time work.
The neighbor said: ‘They both work for the same airline so they spend their days away.’
