Man flew off in helicopter before it could be seized, Leicester Court told

A property developer took to the skies in his helicopter to prevent debt collectors from seizing it, a court heard.

Michael Glastonbury flew off in the £240,000 chopper rather than hand it over to staff from a finance company when they arrived at his Markfield home to repossess it.

Leicester Crown Court heard yesterday that Glastonbury landed in a field belonging to his solicitor and hid the aircraft under a large oak tree without telling him.

The court heard the defendant's pilot's licence had lapsed and he did not have a certificate of air worthiness or insurance for the Robinson R44 helicopter.

It also heard that when the 41-year-old was confronted by the people wanting to take it he immediately took off without any pre-flight safety checks.

Glastonbury, of Copt Oak Road, Markfield, was given a four-month jail sentence, suspended for two years. The businessman was also ordered to do 100 hours of unpaid work.

Glastonbury admitted flying without a valid licence, an air worthiness certificate or insurance, from his home to Low Woods, near Shepshed, a few miles away.

Judge Robert Brown told Glastonbury he had been "foolishly reckless".

He said: "The consequences of an accident without insurance cover are obvious."

Victoria Rose, prosecuting, said that in May 2009, Glastonbury took out a £120,000 mortgage against a helicopter he owned, with conditions it should be insured and his pilot's licence should be valid.

She told the court he fell into arrears and Close Asset Finance obtained a county court judgement for the company to take possession of the aircraft.

Miss Rose added: "Finance company employees attended his address on June 22 this year, but the defendant immediately got in the helicopter and flew away.

"He proceeded to fly across the countryside and arrived at the property of his solicitor, Ronald Eagle. He attempted to hide the aircraft under a large oak tree in a field bordering the property, without the solicitor's knowledge."

It was later located in the field by the police.

Philip Gibbs, mitigating, said: "At the time, the defendant's solicitor was negotiating with the finance company to settle the matter which arose because of cash flow issues with his business, awaiting the sale of property. He's not charged with endangering anyone.

"He wasn't in a position to fly the aircraft and knows he shouldn't have done it."

The court heard Glastonbury's pilot's licence lapsed in 2007 and he had not flown the helicopter for four years. He was ordered to pay £425 court costs.

http://www.thisisleicestershire.co.uk