Woman accused of using dead Sea World pilot identity Ash Jenkinson heckled

The woman who allegedly used the identity of a pilot killed in the Sea World helicopter tragedy to dodge a traffic fine has been heckled outside court. 

Stephanie Louise Bennett, 33, indicated she intended to plead guilty to one count of fraud and one count of obtaining or dealing with another’s identity on Wednesday.

She was accused of falsely nominating late Sea World pilot Ash Jenkinson as the driver of her car when she received an infringement notice on January 9.

She was accused of falsely nominating late Sea World pilot Ash Jenkinson as the driver of her car when she received an infringement notice on January 9 

Ms Bennett admitted to nominating the dead pilot and will return to court to be sentenced on May 19.

Bennett disguised her identity with a scarf but was still taunted as she left the courthouse.

‘You’re disgusting, show your face. Why didn’t you just take the fine? You should be ashamed,’ bystanders yelled.

Bennett earlier told the court that she was going through ‘personal matters’ and ‘financial troubles’ at the time, and had attempted to undo the alleged fraudulent nomination the next day.

The court heard Bennett had attempted to plead guilty after she sent an apologetic email.

‘I did not know the person I nominated, I found his information via the obituary,’ Bennett wrote.

‘The following day I remembered what I did and tried to undo it by attempting to nominate myself but the website didn’t accept it.’

Magistrate Terry Duroux rejected an immediate move to a sentence, adjourning the case to May 19.

‘The court does not operate in a vacuum,’ Magistrate Duroux said.

The wreckage of two helicopters are seen following a collision near Sea World, on the Gold Coast, in January

‘I’m well aware of why we are here. I am putting you on notice – I believe there are authorities that I should be referred to.’

Magistrate Duroux said he did not believe the 15 minutes allotted for a plea hearing on Wednesday was adequate.

‘In my view, this is a lengthy plea and not appropriate for this court. There are two fraud-type charges before the court and the maximum penalty I believe is around five years.’