THE Buckland pilot of a plane that crashed on election day last year, injuring UKIP leader Nigel Farage, was given a two-year community order after a court heard his threats to kill the politician were “a cry for help”.

Justin Adams, 46, was flying a light aircraft towing an election banner on May 6 last year when it nose-dived to the ground. Both men suffered “significant injuries” and were treated in hospital, Oxford Crown Court heard.

Adams, a self-employed commercial pilot, lost work in the six months it took for the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) investigation into the crash to take place.

He was unable to have his plane repaired, as insurers would not pay out until the investigation was completed.

As well as being angry about the length of time the investigation took, Adams also felt resentment towards Mr Farage, judge Mr Justice Saunders said.

The pilot believed he had lost out on an opportunity to sell his story, having been advised not to speak to the press.

He made threats to kill both CAA crash investigator Martin James and Mr Farage, saying he had a gun and could “shoot to kill”, the judge told the court.

Adams was found guilty by a jury in April of five counts of making threats to kill.

He was in custody for six months before sentencing. As part of the community order, he will be supervised for two years.

The CAA investigation eventually concluded that Adams had not been to blame for the crash, the judge said.