THE air rage lawyer who was found dead at the bottom of Beachy Head is believed to have killed herself after her life spiralled out of control, her heartbroken friends said today.

Simone Burns, 50, served just two months of her six-month sentence for spitting at an Air India flight attendant who refused her more wine.

She was released from prison in May but was found dead at the notorious spot in East Sussex 13 days later on June 1.

Her devastated neighbours in Hove today said she had been “drinking a lot” and was “suffering from stress” in the lead up to her shock death.

A friend said the human rights lawyer’s racist rant on the Air India flight was “so out of character” and she started to suffer after being trolled online.

STRESSED

One neighbour, named Ella, said the “stress of the case became too much” and she didn’t get the support she needed in prison.

She told The Sun Online: “Simone was lovely and warm-hearted and she would do anything for anybody.

“She worked as an international lawyer helping refugees and displaced people. Her life was dedicated to other people, she was really selfless.

“But she did have problems. She had been drinking a lot and was suffering some stress and mental health problems.

“I think the stress of the case was too much for her, far too much and she didn’t get the support she needed while she was serving her sentence.

She did have problems. She had been drinking a lot and was suffering some stress and mental health problems.

“It is so, so sad. Everyone who knew her is devastated.”

Another friend, who would not be named, said: “The Air India episode was so out of character for her. It wasn’t her at all.

“She was such a nice, helpful, friendly person, My heart goes out to her family.”

She said Simone was "unfairly labelled" as an anti-Israeli campaigner due to her work with Palestinians and had faced online trolling and abusive phone calls.

She said: “Simone had to shut down her Facebook and all other social media due to the abuse she was getting. People can be so cruel and vicious.”

VIRAL FOOTAGE

Burns had served less than two months of her sentence for being drunk on an aircraft and assaulting cabin crew.

Viral footage of the racist rant showed her demanding she be served a fourth bottle of wine on her business class flight into London.

It captured her shouting, "I'm a f***ing international lawyer" after she was denied more booze on the flight from Mumbai on November 11 last year.

She screamed: "I have done so much for you f***ing Indians and f***ing Pakistanis, you should be grateful to me."

Burns, who was called to the bar in 1992, also called staff "Indian money-grabbing c**ts" and smoked a cigarette in the toilets during the outburst.

I have done so much for you f***ing Indians and f***ing Pakistanis, you should be grateful to me

Judge Nicholas Wood told Burns during sentencing on April 4: "The experience of a drunk and irrational person in the confines of an aircraft is frightening."

He added that "spitting straight into a crew member's face at close range is a particularly insulting and upsetting act".

Burns, originally from Belfast and also known by the surname O'Broin, had been diagnosed with skin cancer 18 years ago.

The lawyer had worked with refugees around the world and was awaiting a prosthetic nose at the time of her court appearances, during which she wore a plaster.

During sentencing, the judge said Burns was of "impeccable character" but added: "The fact remains you were abusive, contemptuous, confrontational and used appalling language."

Burns' lawyers maintained she had no recollection of the rant – which led to her receiving death threats after footage of it was posted online

They added that her actions were out of character due to a “mixture of altitude, consumption of drink and anxiety" at missing her uncle's funeral.

A spokesman for Sussex Police told The Sun Online: "The body of a woman found at Beachy Head on June 1 has been identified as 50-year-old Simone Burns from Hove.

"The death is not being treated as suspicious and the next of kin have been informed.

"The matter has been passed to the coroner's officer."

YOU'RE NOT ALONE

EVERY 90 minutes in the UK a life is lost to suicide.

It doesn't discriminate, touching the lives of people in every corner of society – from the homeless and unemployed to builders and doctors, reality stars and footballers.

It's the biggest killer of people under the age of 35, more deadly than cancer and car crashes.

And men are three times more likely to take their own life than women.

Yet it's rarely spoken of, a taboo that threatens to continue its deadly rampage unless we all stop and take notice, now.

That is why The Sun launched the You're Not Alone campaign.

The aim is that by sharing practical advice, raising awareness and breaking down the barriers people face when talking about their mental health, we can all do our bit to help save lives.

Let's all vow to ask for help when we need it, and listen out for others… You're Not Alone.

If you, or anyone you know, needs help dealing with mental health problems, the following organisations provide support:

• CALM, www.thecalmzone.net, 0800 585 858
• Heads Together, www.headstogether.org.uk
• Mind, www.mind.org.uk, 0300 123 3393
• Papyrus, www.papyrus-uk.org, 0800 068 41 41
• Samaritans, www.samaritans.org, 116 123

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