A young inexperienced UK amateur radio enthusiast wreaked havoc on the operation of planes, trains, a hospital and shopping centres in a "juvenile prank".
Jamie Corrigan was 17 when he began using his home equipment to tap into the radio frequencies of Edinburgh Airport's air traffic control, Network Rail, Edinburgh Royal Infirmary, Edinburgh Castle, NSL Services Group and Westside Plaza and Cameron Toll shopping centres.
Corrigan’s trial at Edinburgh Sheriff Court, heard he made repeated transmissions causing fear, alarm and potential endangerment, as well as a number of offensive and abusive remarks, over a nine-month period from June 2014.
Corrigan, now 20, earlier pleaded guilty at Edinburgh Sheriff Court to charges of culpable and reckless conduct.
On Friday, sheriff Frank Crowe accused him of "outrageous conduct" and placed him on a six-month restriction of liberty order to remain in his home between 10pm and 6am, along with an order to forfeit most of his equipment.
Sheriff Crowe heard Corrigan had a "complex psychological history" and had an appointment with a representative of the Prince's Trust later in October to see if anything could be done to use his skills in a more positive way, which would be a better use of his skills than unpaid community service.
The evidence against Corrigan included interfering with aircraft movement at Edinburgh Airport, Network Rail staff hearing sounds of alarms and attempts to redirect trains and other incidences of threatening and abusive transmissions.
Defence solicitor Andrew Houston told sheriff Crowe that Corrigan had "perceived it as juvenile pranking" and was "uncomfortable and embarrassed about what he had done and didn't want to acknowledge the seriousness of his actions".
Mr Houston added: "He does realise these offences harmed people but finds it extremely difficult for him to express himself in difficult situations".
Media Story - http://stv.tv/news/east-central/1369254-radio-pranker-caused-chaos-with-air-traffic-control-calls/
