Australian fined £700 after crossing TT Course

Court hears 67-year-old had 'lost track of time'

A woman from Australia who entered closed roads on the TT Course after ‘losing track of time’ has been fined £700.

Lynette Brown, of Hesket Boundary Road in Victoria, appeared at Douglas Courthouse today (6 June) where she pleaded guilty to contravening road closure rules.

The 67-year-old crossed Peel Road, in Glen Vine, just after 10am yesterday (5 June) after the Mountain Course had been closed for racing.

She was detained by a marshal at the scene and then arrested by the police; in interview she told officers she’d been out for a long walk and was trying to return to where she was staying.  

The prosecutor told the court Brown had tried to attract the attention of the marshal at the crossing point but had been unsuccessful so had crossed the road anyway.

She later told officers she’d seen a vehicle drive past and had presumed it was ordinary traffic; the court was told this was most likely the course inspection car ahead of the racing action.

Brown’s advocate told the court his client should have made ‘greater efforts’ to speak to the marshal adding: “This was not a wanton reckless act – she made a wrong decision.”

Asking the court to show leniency the advocate added: “She realises now it’s a criminal offence. She is truly sorry for her actions. She wishes to apologise for this.”

Fining her, and ordering her to pay £125 in prosecution costs, Magistrates told Brown: “This was obviously a serious misjudgement on your part.

“It can have serious consequences walking out onto a closed road.”