Helicopter thief in court
Thread Starter
Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 5,197
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From: UK
Attempt to steal helicopter
from the Sheffield Star
He tries to steal a helicopter and gets a Conditional Discharge - no punishment! 
A TEENAGER who broke into Sheffield airport and tried to fly a helicopter has been grounded... by the law.
Lee Mulcrone, aged 19, was so confident he could fly the R22 chopper he calmly lit a cigarette as he took the controls.
He didn't get very far – just far enough to spin the 'copter around on the tarmac.
And hapless Mulcrone was caught weeks later when police matched him to DNA on cigarette butts found in the cockpit.
Police also found a pilot training manual, stolen from the helicopter, under his bed.
Today sheepish Mulcrone told The Star: "I was just walking past and one thing led to another."
He confirmed he had been drinking heavily beforehand.
Sheffield magistrates heard Mulcrone, of Greenwood Avenue, Darnall, spotted three helicopters parked outside a hangar after scaling the airport's perimeter fence.
He climbed into the cockpit of one of the choppers, belonging to Dragon Helicopters flying school, and started the rotor blades.
During his spontaneous 'flying lesson' Mulcrone spun the helicopter round leaving scrape marks on the helicopter and on the ground.
Bob Alexander, company owner, said Mulcrone must have found the keys hidden on the helicopter.
He said: "The only way we knew he had been inside was when we found the helicopter facing the wrong direction.
"He got the rotor blades moving and spun it round several times – there were scape marks on the ground."
Mr Alexander believes that if Mulcrone had got the helicopter off the ground he would have killed himself.
"He managed to spin the machine around so he must have been close to lifting it.
"If he had done he wouldn't have known how to fly it – he would have crashed," he added.
Mulcrone admitted taking a vehicle without the owner's consent.
The helicopter was sent away so tests could be conducted on the engine and rotor blades.
And although Mulcrone's 20 minutes of madness caused no damage to the machine it left Dragon with a £12,500 bill just for carrying out safety checks – only partly covered by insurance.
Mulcrone was given a one year conditional discharge and ordered to pay £200 compensation.
Lee Mulcrone, aged 19, was so confident he could fly the R22 chopper he calmly lit a cigarette as he took the controls.
He didn't get very far – just far enough to spin the 'copter around on the tarmac.
And hapless Mulcrone was caught weeks later when police matched him to DNA on cigarette butts found in the cockpit.
Police also found a pilot training manual, stolen from the helicopter, under his bed.
Today sheepish Mulcrone told The Star: "I was just walking past and one thing led to another."
He confirmed he had been drinking heavily beforehand.
Sheffield magistrates heard Mulcrone, of Greenwood Avenue, Darnall, spotted three helicopters parked outside a hangar after scaling the airport's perimeter fence.
He climbed into the cockpit of one of the choppers, belonging to Dragon Helicopters flying school, and started the rotor blades.
During his spontaneous 'flying lesson' Mulcrone spun the helicopter round leaving scrape marks on the helicopter and on the ground.
Bob Alexander, company owner, said Mulcrone must have found the keys hidden on the helicopter.
He said: "The only way we knew he had been inside was when we found the helicopter facing the wrong direction.
"He got the rotor blades moving and spun it round several times – there were scape marks on the ground."
Mr Alexander believes that if Mulcrone had got the helicopter off the ground he would have killed himself.
"He managed to spin the machine around so he must have been close to lifting it.
"If he had done he wouldn't have known how to fly it – he would have crashed," he added.
Mulcrone admitted taking a vehicle without the owner's consent.
The helicopter was sent away so tests could be conducted on the engine and rotor blades.
And although Mulcrone's 20 minutes of madness caused no damage to the machine it left Dragon with a £12,500 bill just for carrying out safety checks – only partly covered by insurance.
Mulcrone was given a one year conditional discharge and ordered to pay £200 compensation.
Last edited by Heliport; 11th March 2003 at 20:35.
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 127
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From: UK
I'm surprised the poor chap hasn't tried to sue the company for the stressed caused by the lack of care displayed by leaving the aircraft insecure and the keys where he could find them. No doubt if he had got airborne, (for the inevitable short flight to the scene of the fatal crash), his nearest and dearest would be sueing on his behalf
Scalextric for Men
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 277
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From: Southern England outside the M25
The trouble is that if he had got airborne.
The trouble is that if he had got airborne. Some people would have to clear up the mess.
Maybe his community service! should be as a 24/7 chain link fence repairman.
Maybe his community service! should be as a 24/7 chain link fence repairman.
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 2,913
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From: London
Capn Notarious
I'm afraid he wasn't ordered to perform 'community service'.
He was given a Conditional Discharge, and ordered to pay £200 towards the £12,500 it cost the victim to have the helicopter safety-checked.
I'm afraid he wasn't ordered to perform 'community service'.
He was given a Conditional Discharge, and ordered to pay £200 towards the £12,500 it cost the victim to have the helicopter safety-checked.
Scalextric for Men
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 277
Likes: 0
From: Southern England outside the M25
fLYING LAWYER I SIT CORRECTED!
Could the owners pursue him and seek damages to be paid in instalments. Or because of the £200, does that settle the case?
Or is there a case to answer, in that the perimeter was breached? Recognising that the determined individual is almost impossible to curb.
If the helicopter had been in a private hangar within the boundaries, of a Rotorheads home. That would be trespass, in the first instance.
Or is there a case to answer, in that the perimeter was breached? Recognising that the determined individual is almost impossible to curb.
If the helicopter had been in a private hangar within the boundaries, of a Rotorheads home. That would be trespass, in the first instance.
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 1,365
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From: UK
He also committed an offence by being an unauthorised person on a licensed airfield, but it won't make any difference.
No point in suing someone who has no money - the only result of that is to pass money to lawyers.
Can anyone explain the conditional discharge - were there some extenuating circumstances or just a crazy bench??
No point in suing someone who has no money - the only result of that is to pass money to lawyers.
Can anyone explain the conditional discharge - were there some extenuating circumstances or just a crazy bench??
Gatvol
Joined: Jun 2000
Posts: 4,197
Likes: 1
From: KLAS/TIST/FAJS/KFAI
Now, had they pursed the fact that he had consumed Alcohol prior to entering the Cockpit, he may have gone to jail......Zero Tolerance you know....
Interesting that they fined him. Fines in the states go to the court, not the victim.
Also makes me chuckle when part of sentencing of some loser is to pay restitution....Yes Right Lets see ......you damaged that 747 and are ordered to pay in installments..........ha ha, Right $648,423 per month.....
Interesting that they fined him. Fines in the states go to the court, not the victim.
Also makes me chuckle when part of sentencing of some loser is to pay restitution....Yes Right Lets see ......you damaged that 747 and are ordered to pay in installments..........ha ha, Right $648,423 per month.....
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 93
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From: South East England
Trespass in the UK does'nt realy exsist. If the machine was in a hangar, and he broke into said hangar with intention to either damage or steal anything, that would be be Burglary. If he walked across your garden and sat on your doorstep, you couldn't do a thing about it ! Good old British Justice
Conditional Discharge:
He was discharged on condition that he was a good boy for the next year or so and does'nt try to nick another Helicopter !
Hit em were it hurts most........In the Boll*cks !
Conditional Discharge:
He was discharged on condition that he was a good boy for the next year or so and does'nt try to nick another Helicopter !
Hit em were it hurts most........In the Boll*cks !
