VK: Radio pirate sentenced to 21 months.

[m0lsx]

Found via Southgate ARC news site..

A man who broadcast spurious and potentially harmful calls on Victoria Police radio channels has been sentenced to 21 months’ jail.

Vaughan William George, 42, broadcast illegal calls on multiple occasions between January and October 2017. In one transmission in August, he attempted to call off a police chase following an armed robbery (in which he was not involved).

George was sentenced in the Latrobe Valley Magistrates Court last week on numerous charges, including illegally operating a radio communications transmitter, operating a transmitter to interfere with Victoria Police telecommunications, and drug and car theft offences.

George pleaded guilty and submitted an apology.

https://www.criticalcomms.com.au/content/industry/news/radio-pirate-sentenced-to-21-months-323725369#ixzz5By3jwBCQ

A few seconds of audio is available via
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-03-21/9571606

[m0lsx]

More details are at..
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-03-20/radio-pirate-who-hacked-police-communications-jailed/9567604

A man who attempted to stop a police chase in Victoria's east by hacking into police radio transmissions has been sentenced to nearly two years in jail.

In the most notorious incident, the Buchan man tried to call off a police chase in August by impersonating a police officer.

The police chase occurred after an armed robbery in Sale, in which George was not involved.

In recordings of the illegal transmissions George could be heard telling police to stop the chase, which finished in Traralgon.

"265 cancel the pursuit … pirate 101 … [unintelligible] … VKC to Bairnsdale 300 and 251, you can cancel," George said in the recording.

Police were aware George had been transmitting on their radio network for some time, but only took action after he interfered in the chase.

George was sentenced in the Latrobe Valley Magistrates Court on Tuesday on dozens of charges, including illegally operating a radio communications transmitter, operating a transmitter to interfere with Victoria Police telecommunications, and drug and car theft offences.

Magistrate Simon Garnett told the court George's offending was "serious and calculated".

Mr Garnett said George had a long criminal history, but recognised his issues with mental health, alcohol and cannabis, and an apology George issued.

If not for his guilty plea, Mr Garnett told George he would have sentenced him to 24 months in jail.

George was ordered to forfeit his radio equipment, which police said would be sent to the office of Victoria's Police Minister Lisa Neville.

He was sentenced to 21 months in jail, with a minimum of 15 months.

With time already served, George will be eligible for parole in January.