Visiting fan fined for flying drone near TT course

£500 fine for 25-year-old from Warwickshire

Report by BBC Isle of Man

A first-time visitor to the Isle of Man TT has been fined £500 for flying a drone near the course during a qualifying session.

Rory Neale, from Nuneaton in Warwickshire, was seen using the gadget above a campsite near to a section of the circuit in Glen Vine called Ballagarey on Friday.

Douglas Courthouse heard the 25-year-old was reported to marshals in the area who then contacted police.

It is illegal to fly a drone within 3,280ft (1,000m) of the TT course during practice and race sessions.

Neale had arrived on the Island on Thursday evening and was due to stay at Glen Lough Campsite until Sunday.

At about 2pm the following day a sector marshal was made aware of a drone operating above the site which is on Ballahutchin Hill.

Another marshal was sent to track the item down and saw it between 65ft (20m) and 98ft (30m) above the ground before watching it being flown into a van where Neale was sitting.

The court heard the marshal made an attempt to seize it before the police were called to the scene.

Neale was said to cooperate fully with the officer telling him: "It's my first time here, I didn't know the rules."

When interviewed he said he had not seen any signs saying drones could not be flown and that he only flew it to capture a picture of the campsite and not the racing.

Neale's advocate said Neale had been "repeatedly apologetic" and had genuinely not known he was not allowed to use the gadget.

High Bailiff James Brooks said he accepted he was not aware of the law but said there was "a responsibility on you to be safe".

He said that while the drone did not go over the course, or interfere with helicopters, it could have done

"You've got a photo, you've got a memory, I think it's probably best to leave the drone in the van," he added.