No Fine... But He Will Need To Chat With A Counselor

Anthony Donohue is in big trouble. He was in a Queensland, Australia, courtroom on Wednesday, charged with making threats against an aircraft.

Donohue lives with his parents in the Australian town of Sorrento. He was none too pleased when a survey helicopter started flying by his house on a regular basis last November.

Okay, "none-too-pleased" may be a little mild under the circumstances.

"I have had a gutful," he said in calls to local police, the airport and Air Services Australia, according to Aussie media sources.

Authorities say the enterprising Donohue also threatened to shoot the helicopter out of the sky with either a homemade bazooka, or a spud gun that he planned to load with tomatoes.

These days, you make a threat like that, expect the boys in blue to show up on your doorstep -- and indeed, that's what happened. Donohue was arrested, and tried on charges related to terrorism.

Prosecutors wanted Magistrate Alex Chilcotte to throw the book at him, including a $5,000 fine.

Donohue's lawyer, Bill Potts, maintained his client had just gone through a break-up with his girl, he's having difficulties finding a job, and is still suffering the after-effects of a recent home-invasion.

"My client did not even have a bazooka or a spud gun that could shoot tomatoes so clearly he made a threat he couldn't carry out," Mr Potts said. "It was a spur of the moment act of stupidity in circumstances where he was clearly distressed."

The judge eventually let Donohue off with probation. But in closing the case, he told Donohue, "You have to admit it was pretty stupid behavior."

Under the terms of the agreement, Donohue will also have to undergo a little psychiatric counseling. Surprised?

FMI: www.atsb.gov.au