Pilot in Sea World helicopter tragedy the victim of identity fraud

A woman has pleaded guilty to using the identity of Ash Jenkinson - the pilot who died in the January helicopter tragedy at Sea World on the Gold Coast - to try and avoid a penalty for using her mobile phone while driving.

Stephanie Louise Bennett, aged 33, last week pleaded guilty to identity fraud charges at the Beenleigh Magistrates Court.

Caught using her mobile phone behind the wheel on 15th December last year, Bennett attempted to avoid the mandatory $1,078 fine when she went online to claim she was not at fault.

She used information from the death notice of Jenkinson, who died in the 2nd January helicopter collision above the Gold Coast Broadwater, to claim he committed the offence instead.

Bennett told the Court that she was going through “personal matters” and “financial troubles” at the time, but claimed she had attempted to undo the alleged fraudulent nomination the next day.

Jenkinson’s partner swiftly alerted authorities, and Bennett was charged with fraud and identity theft.

Magistrate Terry Duroux rejected an immediate move to a sentence, adjourning the case to 19th May.

Bennett, who disguised her identity with a scarf, was heckled as she left the Magistrates Court.

Bystanders yelled “you’re disgusting, show your face", "Why didn’t you just take the fine?", "You should be ashamed".

Investigations relating to the collision of two Sea World helicopters in mid-air on 2nd January are continuing.

The collision killed Jenkinson and three others with 12 people injured of whom three suffered critical injuries.

Image: Sea World Chief Pilot Ash Jenkinson, who died in the January helicopter tragedy above the Gold Coast Broadwater, has been the viction of posthumous identiry fraud.