Court date for drone’s view of jail

TESTING out a new hi-tech toy 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 went into 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 prior.

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

Security saw the drone after it reached the centre. 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. He was placed on a $600 three-month good behaviour bond with no conviction recorded.