AN amateur photographer nearly crashed a drone into Fatboy Slim as he performed for thousands of people.
Giles Dalby, 39, mixed up the controls of his device while trying to create a “cinematic” video of the gig.
He put it into sport mode — making it harder to avoid obstacles — and recording data showed he “ignored multiple warnings”, a court heard.
Dalby’s DJI Mavic mini drone narrowly missed the Right Here, Right Now star, as well as members of the 8,500-strong crowd on July 22, 2022.
It crashed into the stage on Brighton Beach where Fatboy, 60, was performing to mark the 20th anniversary of his 2002 free concert attended by 250,000 people.
A court heard footage from the drone showed the “near miss” with the DJ, which happened 15 minutes before the gig ended.
On Thursday, Dalby admitted recklessly allowing the drone to endanger Fatboy — real name Norman Cook — and his fans.
Prosecutor Megan Attree told Brighton magistrates’ court: “The footage shows a near miss with the crowd and performer.
“There was no damage or injury, but the risk was very real.”
She added: “Security were alerted that a drone had crashed into the stage, narrowly missing the crowd and headline act.”
Dalby said he has since gained a drone operator licence — and now knows he should not have flown it over the crowd.
He told the court: “I did not intend to put anyone in danger.
“I wanted to create a slow, cinematic appearance.
“And I crashed trying to get an overview of the scene.”
He added: “It was an honest mistake that I will never repeat. There was no malicious intent.”
Dalby, of Brighton, was fined £576, ordered to pay a £230 victim surcharge and costs of £85.
