A pensioner has circumvented jail after threatening a salaried drone pilot with a gun, citing him for filming his wife bake in their garden.
Michael Edwards, 72, was snatched wielding the weapon on video as he dashed out of his home in a temper to confront his victim.
A court perceived videographer Daine Gooden was filming a neighbour’s home from the sky on August 22 last year after being ordered by a property agent for a listing.
But he was shocked when Edwards began to call and promise at him while armed with a black realistic-looking pistol.
Edwards, who was filmed “flapping” his arms, told the victim he had clutched three shots at his hum as it hovered near his property, claiming it was illegal to fly there.
The defendant of Cirencester pleaded guilty to possessing a firearm, videlicet a Huntington G10 air pistol, at an audience last month and was back in court to be sentenced on Friday.
Avoiding jail, he was given a limit and instructed to wear a tag and compensate Gooden.
Gloucester Crown Court heard Gooden tried to explain why he was flying the drone calmly.
But Edwards refused to accept his clarification, repeatedly revealing him not to fly it near his house, saying: “If you do it again, I will fire at it afresh. I took three crack at it, and I missed.”
The sufferer said, “Don’t point that gun at me”, to which the suspect answered, “, Don’t point a drone at me”.
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Edwards then hit the hum case with the gun, causing irreversible damage to the implement worth about £1,300.
Chris Smyth, indict, said Gooden’s activity was “perfectly lawful” and established he was registered with the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) as required.
He said the accused was “erratic with his arms and the gun”, attach he was “only a foot away from the casualty being aggressive, irate and shouting and promise about the drone”.
Edwards was seen on the footage gesturing his arms around erratically while the victim asserted he clasped three shots at the drone as it hung in the sky above.
The defendant, of Cirencester, Gloucestershire, beg guilty to possessing a firearm, that is, a Huntington G10 air pistol, at an audience on March 30 and was back in court to be punished today (Friday, April 28).
He was given a curfew, instructed to wear a tag, and ordered to repay Mr Gooden.
Gloucester Crown Court heard Mr Gooden, who an estate agent commissioned to take aerial photographs of a neighbouring building, tried to explain why he was flying the drone calmly.
But the defendant refused to accept his clarification, repeatedly revealing him not to fly it near his house – expressing: “If you do it again, I will hear gunfire at it again. I took three reports at it, and I missed.”
Drone Pilot Safety and Legal Consequences
The sufferer said, “Don’t point that gun at me”, to which the feel responded, “Don’t point a drone at me.”
Edwards profited from hitting the drone case with the gun, causing irreversible damage to the device worth around £1,300.
Chris Smyth, prosecuting, said Mr Gooden’s pursuit was “perfectly lawful” and established that he was fully registered with the CAA as required.
Fearing for his safety and those around him, Mr Gooden wrestled with the gunman to demilitarize him and kicked the weapon away.
Edwards calmed the gun and ran back into his house. Police were called to the scene, and provide officers detained the defendant.
A neighbour, Katherine Teague, said Mr Gooden had described his reason for flying the drone – but Edwards pursued to state that it was illegal and remained “very angry” about it.
Michael Edwards, 72, was apprehended in August after challenging estate agent videographer Daine Gooden in Cirencester, Gloucestershire.
Video footage shows Edwards amble up to Mr Gooden with a black airgun.
At Gloucester Crown Court, he collected a 12-month community order and was set under curfew for four months.
During this time, he must remain home between 19:00 and 07:00 BST.
Mr Gooden, 33, was airborne the drone over the area to film things marketed for sale.
After the conflict, the court heard he was reduced to tears and that Edwards told him to “stop being such a pussycat”.
Footage of the clash shows Edwards, of Shepherds Way, Cirencester, stroll up to Mr Gooden with the G10 Repeater air pistol.
It begins with Edwards revealing Mr Gooden he is shooting at the drone.
Edwards then emerges to hit the drone with the gun barrel, and there is a grapple, during which Mr Gooden disarms Edwards.
