Pilot who went to scene of medical evacuation with knives spared jail

64-year-old claimed he was fearful for his family after hearing helicopter

A pilot has narrowly avoided being sent to prison after being caught at the scene of a medical evacuation armed with six kitchen knives which he claimed were to protect his family.

Ian Saunders, of Strathallan Crescent in Douglas, had to be warned by taser-trained police officers to drop them just after midnight on 30 April.

The 64-year-old had been spotted on Queen’s Promenade, by a member of the public, holding a knife in his right hand; he also had five concealed in his left hand.

At the time a medical helicopter was landing on the beach, due to bad weather conditions, and emergency services had closed part of Douglas Promenade to facilitate this.  

Saunders was arrested and in interview said he’d heard a helicopter and, due to his knowledge and experience of aircraft, had believed it was military.

This he claimed caused him to fear for his family’s safety; he later admitted possessing prohibited articles - all exceeding three inches in length.  

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During sentencing at Douglas Courthouse Saunders’ advocate described it as an ‘extremely unusual set of circumstances’ which had taken place on the ‘experienced and well-travelled’ pilot’s birthday.

“It still remains a mystery as to what effectively happened that night,” he added.

The court was told Saunders had referred himself to Motiv8 but there had been no suggestion that he'd been intoxicated on the night.

Imposing an eight-week prison sentence, suspended for two years, High Bailiff Jayne Hughes told Saunders: “There is something going on that needs to be addressed.”

“I consider your offending posed a huge risk to members of the public,” she added: “The offence is an extremely serious one.”

Ordering him to pay prosecution costs of £125 the high bailiff said the suspended sentence would ‘hold his feet to the fire’.