Shannon Joseph Glomb, 36, has pleaded guilty to prejudicing a safe operation of SA Police helicopter with “cat toy” laser pointer on Tuesday. Glomb admitted that his choice to direct a high-powered laser beam at a police helicopter was nothing short of a ‘drunken mistake’. The Adelaide man says he bought the device as a toy to amuse his cat and made a bad choice on the booze.
Glomb didn’t realise at the time was that the laser he was shining allowed police in the air to direct officers straight to him and within minutes he says he got a knock on the front door.
He is facing a maximum 14 years in gaol. Glomb warns others,
“Don’t buy laser pointers at all from eBay pretty much … because if you’re like me, I’m normally responsible but there’s that one day where you drink and you do something stupid and then you’re looking at a lot of trouble for it”.
Glomb will return to Court next month.
In New South Wales, Prejudicing the Safe Operation of an Aircraft or Vessel is an offence under section 205 of the Crimes Act 1900 (NSW), which carries a maximum penalty of 14 years in prison.
To establish the offence, the prosecution must prove beyond reasonable doubt that:
1. You engaged in conduct that prejudiced the safe operation of an aircraft or vessel, and
2. You intended by your conduct to prejudice the aircraft or vessel’s safe operation.
An ‘aircraft’ is defined under the Act to mean ‘any machine that can derive support in the atmosphere from the reactions of the air’.
A ‘vessel’ is defined under the Act to mean a watercraft of any description that is capable of being used as a means of transportation on water.
You do not actually have to be on board the aircraft or vessel to be found guilty of the offence.
If you or someone you know are facing criminal charges, you may wish to speak to one of our expert lawyers today. Please call us to arrange an initial consultation on (02) 8080 7585.
