A plane passenger admitted endangering the safety of an aircraft after he set fire to a pornographic magazine because he found one of the pictures offensive.
David Mason ripped the magazine into pieces then set fire to it on a flight from Norway to Gatwick in February.
Lewes Crown Court was told Mason, 45, had found a photo of a black man with a white woman “offensive”.
Mason of Surbiton, Surrey, is to be sentenced on 21 September but has been ordered not to fly as a bail condition.
‘Desire to destroy’
Judge Richard Hayward said Mason must not fly on any commercial flights into or out of the UK or on domestic flights.
He said: “I am concerned about his lack of understanding about the danger he posed.
“My view is that a prison sentence is not appropriate but a degree of supervision is required.
“These offences are regarded as very serious and many judges would send him to prison – I want the public safety ensured.”
Cabin crew on the Braathens Airline Boeing 737 flight doused the paper with water after they smelt burning.
The court was told Mason, who is said to suffer from schizophrenia, had tried to take the magazine into a toilet to burn it but the cubicle was occupied.
He had also asked a flight attendant if he could burn the magazine in an oven near the galley.
He told officers he was “overcome with desire to destroy” the picture.
By: andrewm - 25th August 2004 at 00:19
LOL im sure the judge had an interesting time reading the evidence!
By: andrewm - 24th August 2004 at 21:55
I am honestly surprised he wasnt sectioned after the flight!!!!
By: Bmused55 - 24th August 2004 at 21:40
A plane passenger admitted endangering the safety of an aircraft after he set fire to a pornographic magazine because he found one of the pictures offensive.
David Mason ripped the magazine into pieces then set fire to it on a flight from Norway to Gatwick in February.Lewes Crown Court was told Mason, 45, had found a photo of a black man with a white woman “offensive”.
Mason of Surbiton, Surrey, is to be sentenced on 21 September but has been ordered not to fly as a bail condition.
‘Desire to destroy’
Judge Richard Hayward said Mason must not fly on any commercial flights into or out of the UK or on domestic flights.
He said: “I am concerned about his lack of understanding about the danger he posed.
“My view is that a prison sentence is not appropriate but a degree of supervision is required.
“These offences are regarded as very serious and many judges would send him to prison – I want the public safety ensured.”
Cabin crew on the Braathens Airline Boeing 737 flight doused the paper with water after they smelt burning.
The court was told Mason, who is said to suffer from schizophrenia, had tried to take the magazine into a toilet to burn it but the cubicle was occupied.
He had also asked a flight attendant if he could burn the magazine in an oven near the galley.
He told officers he was “overcome with desire to destroy” the picture.
I think there is a description for an eejit like that.
NUMBNUTS!
By: Duesseldwarf - 24th August 2004 at 21:21
Apparently it was actually a sports lingerie magazine with a tie in to the Olympic games… “Bra-Athens”. 😮
Absolutely priceless!!! 😀
By: GLAsgow - 24th August 2004 at 20:41
You know when some people shouldnt be alloud out there cages 😛
By: andrewm - 24th August 2004 at 20:24
Apparently it was actually a sports lingerie magazine with a tie in to the Olympic games… “Bra-Athens”. 😮
ROTFL!!
By: Ren Frew - 24th August 2004 at 19:47
What was he doing reading porn in flight in the first place? Surely the Braathens inflight magazine provides sufficient excitement?!
Apparently it was actually a sports lingerie magazine with a tie in to the Olympic games… “Bra-Athens”. 😮
By: andrewm - 24th August 2004 at 19:09
Perhaps it was the inflight magazine 😮
mmm Swedish blondes…. droooooooooool
LOL sorry but had to be said!
By: seahawk - 24th August 2004 at 18:43
What was he doing reading porn in flight in the first place? Surely the Braathens inflight magazine provides sufficient excitement?!
Perhaps it was the inflight magazine 😮
By: Pablo - 24th August 2004 at 18:42
What was he doing reading porn in flight in the first place? Surely the Braathens inflight magazine provides sufficient excitement?!
By: seahawk - 24th August 2004 at 18:37
Sometimes you wish for an emergency passenger relase hatch for inflight use.
By: Nasir - 24th August 2004 at 17:17
The court was told Mason, who is said to suffer from schizophrenia…
in addition (I guess it goes without saying) that he also suffers from intense racism and bigotry… No cure for that case :rolleyes:
By: im going in - 24th August 2004 at 16:26
Anyone got a picture of the evidence?
By: purser - 24th August 2004 at 16:18
Jeez, some people shouldn’t be given passports and allowed to travel!
By: 4 engines good - 24th August 2004 at 16:01
Let’s hope he never flies Hooters Air or there’ll be trouble 😀
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August 24, 2004 at 2:41 pm