Prison drone penalty

TESTING out a new hi-tech toy has landed a young Mareeba man in hot water after he was caught filming Lotus Glen Correctional Centre with a drone.

Police prosecutor Senior Constable Amy Rennie said the centre was placed in lockdown when the device was spotted.

Jackson Andrew Carr, 19, had been driving to Atherton on October 11 when he pulled over about 10.30am and decided to try out the drone, which he had been given about a week before.

“The footage was then transferred to the defendant’s mobile phone,” Snr Const. Rennie said.

Security staff saw the drone after it had reached the centre of Lotus Glen.

The facility’s dog squad was alerted and later found Carr.

Officers watched the footage and ensured it was deleted.

Carr, who has no criminal history, pleaded guilty in the Cairns Magistrates Court yesterday. The maximum penalty is $12,615 or two years jail.

Philip Bovey and Company Lawyers solicitor Fabia Parker said there was nothing sinister about Carr’s actions.

“He was completely ignorant of the law,” Ms Parker said, adding that Carr had wanted to see what the facility looked like.

“It’s been an expensive, worrying lesson for him.”

Magistrate Robert Spencer placed Carr on a $600 threemonth good behaviour bond with no conviction recorded.

“There are responsibilities that come with new technology,” Mr Spencer said.

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