Crime & Justice

Woman admits using dead Sea World pilot’s ID to dodge traffic fine

Sydney, Australia, Apr 26 (EFE).- An Australian woman has pleaded guilty to using the identity of a pilot killed in the Sea World helicopter crash to dodge a traffic fine, state news reported on Wednesday.

Stephanie Louise Bennett, 33, was caught on camera on Dec. 15 using her mobile phone while driving, a traffic offense that comes with a mandatory fine of AU$1,000 ($660).

When Bennett received the fine in mid-January, she used the identity details of late Sea World pilot Ash Jenkinson and falsely named him as the driver of her car during the violation.

Jenkinson died on Jan. 2, along with three others, when the helicopter he was flying crashed into another aircraft in mid-air near the Sea World theme park in the eastern city of Brisbane.

Jenkinson’s partner notified the authorities after receiving the fine weeks after his death.

Earlier this month, Bennet told the court that the day after using Jenkinson’s identity she “tried to undo it by attempting to nominate myself but the website didn’t accept it.”

Bennet read an apology and expressed regret over her actions at Wednesday’s court hearing.

Bennett pleaded guilty in court to one count of fraud and one count of identity theft and one count of obtaining or dealing with another’s identity on Wednesday, Australia’s AAP news agency reported.

Bennet will return to court on May 19 to be sentenced. EFE

aus-nc/ch/ia

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