Peter Dunstan a.k.a. Cliff Roger Cicolini: Alleged chopper thief banned from airport

A Top End man charged with the bizarre theft of a helicopter after he allegedly failed to pay for the aircraft will also be assessed for electronic monitoring after allegedly breaching his bail by flying interstate.

Peter Dunstan aka Cliff Roger Cicolini has been charged with theft and obtaining benefit by deception after allegedly flying off with a Robinson R22 helicopter from a Weddell airfield in June 2021. Picture: 9 News Darwin

A Top End man charged with the bizarre theft of a helicopter after he allegedly failed to pay the outstanding sale price has been banned from Darwin airport and will also be assessed for electronic monitoring after allegedly breaching his bail by flying interstate.

Peter Dunstan, who is also known as Cliff Roger Cicolini, appeared in the Supreme Court of the Northern Territory at Darwin on Friday after handing himself in to authorities the evening prior in relation to two alleged breaches of bail.

The Crown alleges Mr Dunstan flew interstate on two occasions in contravention of his bail.

No pleas were entered to the two charges of breaching his bail conditions.

Mr Dunstan had three additional conditions added to his existing bail.

He will now be required to live at an address in Berrimah, is not to go within 500m of Darwin International Airport at Marrara, and, should he be found suitable, is to wear an electronic monitoring ankle bracelet, all of which were consented to by Mr Dunstan’s defence counsel.

The Robinson Helicopter R22 allegedly stolen by Peter Dunstan a.k.a. Cliff Roger Cicolini. Picture: NT Police

Mr Dunstan will face the Supreme Court of the Northern Territory in Darwin again on July 2 for a mention of his substantive fraud and theft charges.

This masthead previously reported that the defendant, who resides in the Katherine region, allegedly paid a deposit for a Robinson R22 helicopter in June 2021 at MKT Airfield at Weddell but never paid the outstanding amount.

Nearly a year after the alleged heist, police said they tracked down the chopper at the 50-year-old’s Bradshaw property, approximately 300km south of Weddell.

Mr Dunstan has pleaded not guilty to the charges relating to the alleged theft.

His trial, which is yet to be listed, is expected to run for four weeks.