America

Australia helicopter collision: Woman used Sea World pilot’s name to avoid driving fine

An Australian woman has admitted trying to pin a driving fine on a pilot killed in a horrific mid-air helicopter crash.

Stephanie Louise Bennett was caught using her phone while behind the wheel, but used details in Ashley Jenkinson’s obituary to accuse him of the offence.

The UK-born pilot was among four people killed when two helicopters collided near Brisbane in January.

banner

Ms Bennett pleaded guilty to fraud and identity theft on Wednesday. She will be sentenced in May.

Police say the 33-year-old was sent a fine notice in early January, shortly after she was caught using her phone while driving – an offence which attracts a penalty of A$1,078 (£575).

She disputed the fine online, instead nominating Mr Jenkinson – who she did not know – as the driver at the time of the offence in December.

Mr Jenkinson’s partner alerted authorities after receiving the fine notice weeks after his death.

Ms Bennett had previously avoided court – instead trying to enter a guilty plea by email, which the magistrate rejected – and disguised herself with a scarf as she arrived to heckles on Wednesday.

In Ms Bennett’s email to the court, which was read aloud, she apologised “for the turmoil this has caused anyone” and said she was “immensely regretful for my actions”.

She said she had been going through “personal matters” and “financial troubles” at the time, and had tried to undo her actions the next morning.

Mr Jenkinson’s helicopter, which was taking off, collided with a helicopter coming in to land at Sea World, on the Gold Coast, on 4 January.

He was killed, along with three passengers on board – Sydney woman Vanessa Tadros, and British couple Ron and Diane Hughes – and three others were seriously injured.

The other helicopter was heavily damaged but managed to land on a sandbar.

Ogyem Solomon

Solomon Ogyem – Media Entrepreneur | Journalist | Brand Ambassador Solomon Ogyem is a dynamic Ghanaian journalist and media entrepreneur currently based in South Africa. With a solid foundation in journalism, Solomon is a graduate of the OTEC School of Journalism and Communication Studies in Ghana and Oxbridge Academy in South Africa. He began his career as a reporter at OTEC 102.9 MHz in Kumasi, where he honed his skills in news reporting, community storytelling, and radio broadcasting. His passion for storytelling and dedication to the media industry led him to establish Press MltiMedia Company in South Africa—a growing platform committed to authentic African narratives and multimedia journalism. Solomon is the founder and owner of Thepressradio.com, a news portal focused on delivering credible, timely, and engaging stories across Ghana and Africa. He also owns Press Global Tickets, a service-driven venture in the travel and logistics space, providing reliable ticketing services. In addition to his media ventures, Solomon serves as a Brand Ambassador for Alabuga, a prominent Russian industrial company, representing their interests and expansion across Africa. He previously owned two notable websites—Ghanaweb.mobi and ShowbizAfrica.net—both of which contributed to entertainment and socio-political discussions within Ghana’s digital space. With a diverse background in media, digital journalism, and business, Solomon Ogyem is dedicated to telling impactful African stories, empowering youth through media, and building cross-continental media partnerships.

Related Articles

Back to top button