The Hover pilot who was arrested on suspicion of being over the alcohol limit while in control of a hovercraft appeared in court today.
There were 36 passengers on the Freedom 90 he was piloting on 22nd June. He was later arrested by police and charged on suspicion of being over the alcohol limit.
Two charges
Newport Magistrates Court heard that the pilot, who has 18 years experience piloting hovercraft, was charged with registering 96 microgrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath on 22nd June, exceeding the pre-described limit.
He was also charged with contravening Merchant Shipping regulations by failing to present for duty free of alcohol.
First of its kind
Sunyana Sharman, prosecuting for the Maritime and Coastguard Agency, said this was the first case of this kind they’ve had to deal with.
A preliminary hearing at Newport Crown Court has been set for 8th September 2014 and the 50 year old has been released on unconditional bail.
Comments on this report are closed due to pending court case.
Image: Eastleighbusman under CC BY 2.0
