Tarni Lee Brown: Kingswood woman allegedly pointed laser at PolAir aircraft

A western Sydney woman, who lives alone with her three cats, has allegedly pointed a green laser at a PolAir aircraft a number of times in the middle of the night, a court heard.

A 27-year-old Kingswood woman, who lives alone with her three cats, has been denied bail after allegedly aiming a laser pointer at Polair aircraft.

Tarni Lee Brown, also known as Sarah Stephanie or Tarni Crothers, appeared before Penrith Local Court on Wednesday.

About 11:30pm on February 16, a green laser was pointed at PolAir 1 a number of times and, police allege, the laser beam interfered with the crew and the pilot which jeopardised their safety.

A green laser was pointed at PolAir 1 at about 11:30pm on February 16. Picture: The Daily Telegraph

Shortly after, police officers from Nepean Police Area Command went to a unit on Joseph St, Kingswood where they spoke to Brown. She was arrested and a laser pointer was seized.

She was taken to St Marys police station and charged with prejudicing the safe operation of a Division 3 aircraft, do act to threaten safety of aircraft/persons and possess or use a prohibited weapon without permit.

In Penrith Local Court, Brown’s lawyer asked for her client to be released on bail due to her health problems.

In Penrith Local Court, Brown’s lawyer asked for her client to be released on bail.

“I note (Brown) has a number of health issues,” she said. “She was diagnosed with autism at 14 and has chronic pain associated with slipped disc on left side of spine and pain in leg for which she is prescribed codeine for pain management and receives disability payments.”

Magistrate Fiona Toose asked for documentation about the autism diagnosis but it was not available before the court.

Brown’s lawyer also said Brown’s time in custody would be particularly onerous due to Covid-19 and proposed for her client to be released into the custody of her stepmother rather than to her independent apartment in Evolve Housing where she has stayed for nine years with her three cats.

The prosecution was opposed to bail citing Brown’s recent criminal history and the danger posed to the public because of the laser offence.

Magistrate Fiona Toose came to a decision, referencing Brown’s recent history.

“Using a laser on aircraft gives rise to endangering members of the community,” she said.

“The prosecution‘s concerns are that, while she does not have a lengthy history, it is one that has escalated since April last year and shows ongoing offending behaviour resistant to court orders and increasing in seriousness.”

The court heard Brown’s offending started in April last year and she was currently placed on four community corrections orders.

“It is quite clear Ms Stephanie is not capable of complying to community corrections orders because, every time she has entered one, she has breached 100 per cent of them with,” Magistrate Toose said.

“Her history shows she does not comply. The unacceptable risk cannot be mitigated. Bail is refused.”

The matter will return to court in late April.