Frank Black
05-10-2002, 04:25 PM
Man threw schoolgirl to sharks 'for a joke'
A man has admitted throwing a 12-year-old girl into water where sharks were feeding as a joke.
Craig Rattigan picked her up and threw her over a safety chain as she catapulted bait to the sharks in Australia.
Nhulunbuy Magistrates' Court heard she escaped injury and was eventually rescued by her mother.
Rattigan, 41, has been sentenced to 120 hours community service after apologising to his victim.
The Northern Territory News reports he blamed his bizarre behaviour on the fact he had spent the day drinking beer and smoking cannabis.
Magistrate, David Loadman, told him: "I just don't understand how you could put a child in the water among feeding sharks.
"There was probably no chance of her being ripped to shreds, but she could have suffered extensive superficial injuries, and would have been frightened out of her wits."
The girl was in a swimsuit throwing bait to the black-tipped reef sharks, which measure between 30 and 60cms, when Rattigan crept up behind her.
Defence lawyer, Helen Spowart, said: "He had been drinking beer all day and impulsively thought it was going to be funny to throw the girl in the water. He has realised since it was not funny and is deeply sorry."
BELIEVE
A man has admitted throwing a 12-year-old girl into water where sharks were feeding as a joke.
Craig Rattigan picked her up and threw her over a safety chain as she catapulted bait to the sharks in Australia.
Nhulunbuy Magistrates' Court heard she escaped injury and was eventually rescued by her mother.
Rattigan, 41, has been sentenced to 120 hours community service after apologising to his victim.
The Northern Territory News reports he blamed his bizarre behaviour on the fact he had spent the day drinking beer and smoking cannabis.
Magistrate, David Loadman, told him: "I just don't understand how you could put a child in the water among feeding sharks.
"There was probably no chance of her being ripped to shreds, but she could have suffered extensive superficial injuries, and would have been frightened out of her wits."
The girl was in a swimsuit throwing bait to the black-tipped reef sharks, which measure between 30 and 60cms, when Rattigan crept up behind her.
Defence lawyer, Helen Spowart, said: "He had been drinking beer all day and impulsively thought it was going to be funny to throw the girl in the water. He has realised since it was not funny and is deeply sorry."
BELIEVE