A Pewsey gamekeeper who drove his Land Rover at a hovering helicopter and could have killed two Army pilots was fund guilty at Salisbury Crown Court today (Weds) of endangering the safety of an aircraft.
Malcolm John Hughes, 61, of Raffin Lane, Pewsey was angered on the afternoon of December 9, 2009, as an Army helicopter was hovering 10 feet above a field at Wootton Rivers, near Pewsey, while it was on an exercise.
He deliberately drove his vehicle at the tail of the Squirrel helicopter, narrowly missing it, and then gestured aggressively to the crew, the pilot’s action narrowly avoiding disaster by seconds.
Hughes, who pleaded not guilty, not only risked his own life but his actions could have had serious, even fatal consequences for the crew, his disregard for their safety being considered wholly irresponsible, the court was told.
Hughes is now due to appear at Swindon Crown Court next month for sentencing.