. Mount Gambier drug trafficker Benjamin Cairns fined 6,500 for flying drone over houses and people. Benjamin Thomas Cairns pleaded guilty to seven charges related to operating a drone illegally. He could be seen on vision found on the drone after it was seized during a drug investigation. Cairns is expected to be released from jail later this year. A convicted drug trafficker has been fined 6,500 for using a drone too close to people and at night. Benjamin Thomas Cairns, 29, pleaded guilty to seven dronerelated offences in the Mount Gambier Magistrates Court on Thursday. He is already serving at least two years in jail for drug trafficking after being sentenced in June last year. The Commonwealth Director of Public Prosecutions told the court that Cairns flew the drone over Conroe Heights, Mount Gambier on January 12, 17 and 19, 2022. The drone was seized in February 2022 as part of an investigation that led to the drug charges. But the prosecutor said there was no evidence the drone was used for drug dealing. "I understand that inference can be drawn, your honour, and I think that's a very reasonable inference, but we have not provided any evidence to state that in our submissions," the prosecutor said. He said only 11 similar cases had been prosecuted by the Commonwealth since 2020. Most other dronerelated offences reported in the media resulted in fines of less than 1,000, but in 2019, a NSW man was fined 7,750 for a similar offence after initially refusing to pay a much smaller aviation infringement notice issued by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority. The court was told Cairns could be seen in various videos found on a memory card in the drone. He was charged with three counts of using a model aircraft less than 30 metres from a person and three counts of using a model aircraft over a populous area. Safety authorities warn that drones come with stringent rules of use. Each offence carries a maximum penalty of 11,100. Cairns was also accused of one count of using an unmanned aircraft at night without a permit, which attracts a fine of up to 5,550. The prosecutor said the videos showed the drone flying over houses, roads and vehicles, and coming close to four people, including a pedestrian who was briefly followed. Cairns told the court his mother had bought the drone for him from Harvey Norman and he was unaware of the rules around using it. But he said he now realised he had broken the law and regretted his actions. Magistrate Koula Kossiavelos fined Cairns 1,000 for each of the daytime offences and 500 for flying the drone at night. "I'm sure Mr Cairns that you've learnt from this and it's not going to happen again," she said. She hoped the fine would deter others from using drones without first checking the relevant laws. "Drones are prolific in our community and the community must understand that when purchasing a drone, there are regulations and safety issues that need to be known," she said. "The aircraft cannot be simply taken out of its package and operated by an individual without regulations being adhered to and complied with, because the effect to the community can end up causing harm and damage from such aircraft.". Cairns' nonparole period is expected to end later this year. We acknowledge Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples as the First Australians and Traditional Custodians of the lands where we live, learn, and work. This service may include material from Agence FrancePresse AFP, APTN, Reuters, AAP, CNN and the BBC World Service which is copyright and cannot be reproduced. AEST Australian Eastern Standard Time which is 10 hours ahead of GMT Greenwich Mean Time
Drug trafficker Benjamin Cairns fined $6,500 for illegally operating a drone over houses and people in Mount Gambier. Cairns pleaded guilty to seven charges after the drone was seized during a drug investigation. He is already serving time for drug trafficking. The drone was flown at night and close to individuals, resulting in fines for various offenses. Authorities emphasize the importance of understanding drone regulations to avoid potential harm and damage to the community. Cairns expressed regret for his actions.