UK drone pilot punished for flights over pro soccer games and London landmarks

By Trevor Mogg September 16, 2015

dji Phantom 2 Vision+ — Rich Shibley/Digital Trends

While the vast majority of drone owners have no problem flying their copters in a sensible manner and safe environment, there are still those who can’t resist taking a risk or two in the hope of capturing some spectacular video footage.

If a court case in the U.K. this week is anything to go by, the authorities are finally waking up to the idea that the machine’s increasing popularity are likely to pose some serious challenges.

Drone enthusiast Nigel Wilson is believed to have become the first person in the U.K. to face a criminal prosecution for improper drone use. Wilson was arrested last October and punished by a London court on Tuesday for offenses in connection with quadcopter flights over Premiership soccer matches as well as Buckingham Palace and other London landmarks, the Guardian reported.

The 42-year-old Brit was fined £1,800 ($2,760) and ordered to pay £600 ($920) in costs for a total of nine offenses involving drone flights over congested areas and failure to maintain direct, unaided visual contact with the aircraft. The judge also hit Wilson with a ban preventing him from buying, borrowing or flying a drone for the next two years.

Wilson flew his DJI Phantom 2 Vision+ over a number of Premiership soccer matches last year involving major clubs such as Arsenal, Liverpool, and Manchester City. Footage posted on YouTube indicates the machine was flying up to 100 meters above the various stadiums that he visited.

Other videos shot by Wilson show footage of famous London locations such as Big Ben and the Shard, currently the tallest building in the EU.

“Height of arrogance”

Addressing Wilson, Judge Quentin Purdy said that on each occasion “an accident could have occurred simply by a gust of wind or something of that nature taking it out of your control.”

Purdy added, “In each and every case you knew what you were doing. Several times you were warned by police, who seized drones from you, and on numerous occasions by people posting [comments] on your YouTube channel. It was the height of arrogance in terms of public safety.”

If you’ve just bought your first quadcopter and are wondering about where you can fly it, best you check your local laws for the current regulations, or watch this video released last year by the Federal Aviation Administration offering some guidelines.

Topics

Contributing Editor

Not so many moons ago, Trevor moved from one tea-loving island nation that drives on the left (Britain) to another (Japan)…

Emerging Tech

This bracelet helps you fall asleep faster and sleep longer

woman-in-bed-wearing-twilight-apollo-on-ankle

This content was produced in partnership with Apollo Neuroscience.
Have you been struggling to get the recommended seven hours of sleep? It's always frustrating when you get in bed at a reasonable time, then toss and turn for a hours before you actually sleep. The quality of that sleep is important too. If you're waking up multiple times during the night, you're likely not getting the quality REM cycle sleep that truly rejuvenates your body. If traditional remedies like herbal teas and noise machines just aren't helping, maybe it's time to try a modern solution. Enter the Apollo wearable.

Now we understand being a little skeptical. How can a bracelet on your wrist or ankle affect your sleep patterns? Certainly the answer to a better night's sleep can't be so simple. We considered these same things when we first heard of it. We'll dive deeper into the science behind the Apollo wearable, but suffice it to say that many people have experienced deeper, uninterrupted sleep while wearing one.
A non-conventional approach to better sleep

Deals

The 11 best Father’s Day deals that you can get for Sunday

Data from a workout showing on the screen of the Apple Watch Series 8.

Father's Day is fast approaching and there's still time to buy your beloved Dad a sweet new device to show him how much you love him. That's why we've rounded up the ten best Father's Day tech deals going on right now. There's something for most budgets here, including if you're able to spend a lot on your loved one. Read on while we take you through the highlights and remember to order fast so you don't miss out on the big day.
Samsung Galaxy Tab A8 -- $200, was $230

While it's the Plus version of the Samsung Galaxy Tab A8 that features in our look at the best tablets, the standard variety is still worth checking out. Saving your Dad the need to dig out their laptop or squint at a small phone screen, the Samsung Galaxy Tab A8 offers a large 10.5-inch LCD display and all the useful features you would expect. 128GB of storage means plenty of room for all your Dad's favorite apps as well as games too. A long-lasting battery and fast charging save him the need for a power source too often too.

Deals

The Apollo wearable is proven to help you sleep better (and it’s on sale)

Apollo wearable worn during sleep in bed.

This content was produced in partnership with Apollo Neuro.
Stress, anxiety, and insomnia are all concerning things that just about everyone struggles with at one time or another. Maybe you can sleep, fending off insomnia, but you lack quality sleep and don’t feel rested in the morning. Or, maybe when it’s time to kick back and relax, you just can’t find a way to do so. There are many solutions for these issues, some work, and others don’t, but one unlikely area of support can be found in a modern, smart wearable.

Medicine is the obvious choice, but not everyone prefers to go that route. There is an answer in modern technology or rather a modern wearable device. One such device is the Apollo wearable, which improves sleep and stress relief via touch therapy. According to Apollo Neuro, the company behind the device, which is worn on your ankle, wrist or clipped to your clothing, it sends out waves of vibrations to help your body relax and reduce feelings of stress. It's an interesting new approach to a common problem that has typically been resolved via medicine, therapy, or other more invasive and time-consuming techniques. The way it utilizes those vibrations, uniquely placed and administered, to create a sense of peace, makes us ask, can it really cure what ails us? We’ll dig a little deeper into how it achieves what it does and what methods it’s using to make you feel better.