Wirral man fined after flying drone over Bramley Moore Stadium

A Wirral man has been found guilty after flying his drone in breach of height and distance restrictions whilst filming the new Bramley Moore stadium.

Nicholas Durbin, 45, of Merlin Avenue, Upton, flew the drone in excess of the 400ft height limit on 9 May 2024, potentially endangering any other airspace users in that area.  

The flight took place from the Wirral, crossing the River Mersey to the new Everton FC stadium at Bramley Moore Dock. During this flight he also travelled up to 1.3km away from his take off point, meaning he could not maintain visual line of sight.

On a previous occasion, on 20 March 2024, he also flew a drone at nearly 300ft above the legal height limit in Anglesey. During this flight he also travelled up to 2.39km away from his take off point, meaning he could not maintain visual line of sight.

He was found guilty at Sefton Magistrates Court yesterday, Thursday 13 March, on four offences - two offences of being the remote pilot of an unmanned aircraft failing to comply with operating height and two offences of being the remote pilot of an unmanned aircraft failing to keep unmanned aircraft in sight.

He was given a combined fine of £1600, victim surcharge of £640 and costs of £650 totalling £2890.

Sergeant Kyle Sayers said: “Over the coming months Merseyside Police will be proactively targeting illegal drone use and during the Aintree Festival next month a temporary restricted airspace will be in place.

"Merseyside Police is responsible for keeping the public safe and airspace restrictions form part of those measures just like road closures or river patrols.

“We have used drone restrictions to great effect during past large public events including Eurovision, Aintree Festival and the visit of HMS Prince of Wales to ensure people are not in any danger, however our proactive approach will not only target restricted airspace, as this prosecution shows.

“Drone users who fly inside a Restricted Airspace that have not been granted permission will be guilty of committing an offence and could be prosecuted as well as having their equipment seized and confiscated.”

For more information about the rules on drone flying go to: Introduction to drone flying and the UK rules | UK Civil Aviation Authority