@KeyPilot: thank you for playing "the devil's advocate" - it is always good to consider both sides of a medal. I will go along with you up to a certain point. Yes this person must have been desperate for cash, and yes he might be expected to know what he was doing in his usual plane. And indeed there was no proven intention to harm, "gross neglicence" would be the overall term for me. Still, for a person with his experience and his reputation, he really ought to have known better. Even here we could see how several people took their example from him. The judgement, as I read it, is basically meant to end his flying career for once and for good, and that seems appropriate. And, if UK is still somewhat similar to the rest of the world, he'll be released long before 3,5 years; jails are too expensive to keep up full time, these days,
As for the beer: I dare you to fly across to Belgium and try the really good stuff!