Woman who used dead Seaworld helicopter pilot’s name to try and get out of a speeding fine sends baffling email to a magistrate
- Woman nominated dead pilot as driver to evade fine
- Apologised via email for hurt she caused and pleaded guilty
- But her written plea was not accepted by the court
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A woman has apologised after she was charged for using the name of one of the helicopter pilots killed in the SeaWorld tragedy to get out of a fine.
Stephanie Louise Bennett, 33, was due to face Brisbane’s Beenleigh Magistrates Court on Thursday over two counts of fraud.
She instead emailed an apology and entered a written plea of guilty, the Courier-Mail reported.
Ms Bennett is alleged to have falsely nominated helicopter pilot, Ash Jenkinson, as the driver of her car, after she received an infringement notice for using her phone while driving on December 15.
Mr Jenkinson died alongside three of his passengers in a collision between two Sea World tour helicopters on January 2. Ms Bennett allegedly nominated him on January 9 after spotting his name in an online obituary.
Mr Jenkinson’s widow, Kosha Richardson-Johnson, received the fine notice in the mail shortly after and contacted authorities.
A woman has apologised via email to Brisbane’s Beenleigh Magistrates Court on Thursday for using the name of then-deceased SeaWorld pilot, Ash Jenkinson (pictured) to avoid a fine
Ms Bennett’s email read to the court said: ‘I apologise for the hurt that this has caused everyone.
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‘I am immensely regretful of my actions.
‘At the time I was going through personal matters, had time off work due to an injury, had no sick leave or annual leave as I had just changed jobs and had financial troubles at the time I received the infringement.’
She admitted she did not know Mr Jenkinson.
The Courier-Mail reported that she concluded her statement by pleading guilty to the charges of dishonestly inducing a person to act and using another’s identity for the purpose of committing an indictable offence.
Ash Jenkinson died alongside three passengers on the Gold Coast following the tragic collision on January 2
Ms Bennett issued an apology to ‘undo’ the hurt she had caused everyone including Mr Jenkinson’s widow, Kosha Richardson-Johnson (pictured, left)
However, Ms Benett’s written plea was not accepted by Magistrate Terry Duroux.
‘The gravity of the alleged offending is far too serious to be dealt with by way of written plea,’ he said.
Ms Bennett’s case has been adjourned until April 20, where she must appear in person or a warrant will be issued in her arrest.
Mr Jenkinson is survived by his wife, young son and members of his close family as well as hundreds of friends who knew the popular Gold Coast local as ‘Jenko’.
