Angry Bristol car owner jailed for grabbing helicopter

[nopy99]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-bristol-10851311

A man has been sentenced to a year in prison for endangering the safety of an aircraft after he grabbed a helicopter as it took off in Bristol.

Bristol Crown Court was told Houshang Jafari, 58, became "extremely angry" after the helicopter landed near his flat, causing debris to hit his car.

The court heard how Jafari grabbed one of its skid bars as the pilot tried to take off with four passengers on board.

The pilot managed to take off safely despite Jafari's actions last March.

Dr Mark Blockland, who was in charge of the helicopter, was credited in court for using his "considerable skill" to allow it to take off safely despite it lurching violently.

Sentencing Jafari, Judge Michael Roach said it was a "deliberate and much more a reckless and dangerous act" and despite the fact he was a business and family man, he had "no choice" other than to send him to prison for a year.