Bristol businessman jailed for terrifying attack on helicopter
A businessman convicted of grabbing a helicopter as it took off from outside his luxury home has been jailed for a year.
Houshang Jafari was "livid" when, the chopper landed outside his £1.2 million apartment at the Dower House, Stoke Park, Bristol Crown Court heard.
People on board the aircraft told a jury how he kicked its nose and threw a plastic bag at it before grabbing one of its skids as it lifted off, causing it to lurch to the right before the pilot was able to gain control and fly away.
Jafari, 58, denied endangering the safety of an aircraft in March last year.
A jury of six women and five men found him guilty as charged.
Judge Michael Roach told him: "These are deliberate acts which you committed in temper.
"You're intelligent and resourceful. You know better than to behave in this way. You allowed your temper to get the better of you. You did so in a dramatic and dangerous way."
The judge said that as Jafari was a wealthy businessman, who contested the case, he should pay the £2,800 prosecution costs instead of the public.
For full story and exclusive pictures see tomorrow's Evening Post
24 Comments
View all
by GroveGroover, Bristol
Wednesday, August 04 2010, 2:53PM
“More info here too: http://destructionofgrovewood.blogspot.com/”
by Stapleton Man, Bristol
Wednesday, August 04 2010, 2:12PM
“This man is no joke! Apart from the helicopter incident, which could have killed several people, he has spent the last 3 years vandalising a local ancient woodland that he bought with aim of destroying it to build on. In the process has upset and aggravated the people living nearby and driven away protected wildlife. (To read more about these antics please visit http://snuffmills.blogspot.com/) He has used similar tactics in other locations across the city (Trymwood, Sneyd Park) and others areas of the UK. Everyone he comes into contact with, including his long-suffering neighbours, is angered by his behaviour which is extreme, bullying and loud. He thinks he's above the law just because he's titled himself 'lord', has money and because he comes from Iran. This he uses as an excuse to behave in an utterly contemptible fashion. Well done Judge Michael Roach for sentencing him to the time in prison that he richly deserves.”
by Local, Frenchay
Wednesday, August 04 2010, 9:20AM
“Some corrections to people's comments. Firstly it wasn't 'his' garden - as much as he likes to think it is...this was a communal area and the landing had been agreed... secondly this is symptomatic of a man that is very well know to the local community. While I agree that this does seem some what excessive it is time he began to realise this type of behave - which we have seen before is not appropriate. His money does not buy him the right to avoid the standards the majority of us abide to.”
by Charles Henry 1945-(diuturnity), Somersetshire
Wednesday, August 04 2010, 8:56AM
“:| @confused, Bristol
You obviously need help finding your brain Confused. . It maybe wise to have an MRI scan first so's not to waste any more time looking. . Just think if they'd fined him £10,000 and given him a month sweeping the streets of Bristol! . They could have humiliated him to satisfy all his detractors and taught him a lesson he'd never forget. . Think of the number of brains they could have found with £10,000!”
by Dan, South Gloucestershire
Wednesday, August 04 2010, 8:21AM
“Exclusive my eye - I've just seen the print edition and there's far less content than both the BBC and the Mail published last night. Not only that, it's a rehash of the previous stories.”
by Stu, Norwich
Wednesday, August 04 2010, 8:08AM
“Well I'm going to be doing my stop, look and listen when I open my front door this morning. It seems if your neighbours know its coming anything could legally land on your doorstep. Helicopter today, A380 tomorrow .....”
by Brizz Tony, Brislington, near the heliport.
Tuesday, August 03 2010, 10:47PM
“Man's a fool, and has no thought for anyone but himself. Not only that, walking towards a helicopter with moving rotors is not something to do unless you know what you're doing. They're hard to see when fast, and get closer to the ground when as they slow down. Not only that, they're a nightmare to get blood stains off.”
by confused, Bristol
Tuesday, August 03 2010, 10:34PM
“Charles Henry - are you saying then that he isn't guilty, or that he should not have been imprisoned? I only ask because I murdered three people last week but as I'm normally law abiding I think that it shouldn't count against me. Perhaps you could clarify...”
by Charles Henry 1945-(diuturnity), Somersetshire
Tuesday, August 03 2010, 10:10PM
“If the courts were giving all criminals proper sentences, this could, just maybe, have been seen as justice. (Or serves him right anyway). But obviously prison only works now if you normally obey the law and pay the taxes you can't avoid. . . Or don't pay your taxes like Lester Piggot.
Habitual criminals and law breakers have to be given community sentences because our jails are so overcrowded. . Of course he does have the personality of Saddam Hussein. . And I expect he'd been planning it for weeks; so we'll make an exception. . You couldn't make it up! . . Jobsworths 10 - Common sense NIL.”
by Resident, The Dower House ,Bristol
Tuesday, August 03 2010, 7:15PM
“@Dan South Gloucestershire
Maybe, The Evening Post has an Exclusive.
.”