A Cheshire man has been jailed for dazzling the pilot of a police helicopter with a laser beam.
David Warren, 41, of Eagle Mount, Latchford, admitted an offence of shining a laser beam at a moving vehicle when he appeared at Warrington Magistrates' Court on Thursday, 30th September 2024.
It is an offence under section 1 of the Laser Misuse (Vehicles) Act 2018 for any person to:
- shine or direct a laser beam towards any vehicle which is moving or ready to move, and;
- the laser beam dazzles or distracts, or is likely to dazzle or distract, a person with control of the vehicle.
The offence is triable either way and has a maximum sentence of 26 weeks' custody and/or an unlimited fine on summary conviction; 5 years' custody and/or an unlimited fine on conviction on indictment.
In the early hours on Tuesday, 27th August 2024 an NPAS helicopter was tasked to assist with searching for a missing man in the Latchford area.
A green laser beam was shone at the helicopter from the upstairs window of a property. Officers were directed to the property in question, where they found Warren.
Warren refused to open the door, so officers forced entry. Upon searching the property they recovered a green laser pointer from an upstairs bedroom.
In interview Warren admitted the offence, telling officers that he had been using the laser to point out the helicopter whilst filming it on his mobile phone.
Warren was subject to a suspended sentence order, having been convicted of threatening a person with a weapon just a week prior to the laser incident. He was handed a 23-week suspended sentence in relation to that offence.
In relation to the laser incident, Magistrates were of the view that the offence was so serious that only a custodial sentence was appropriate.
Warren was sentenced to 12 weeks' custody for the laser offence. The court also activated his 23 week suspended sentence in full, meaning an overall sentence of 35 weeks' custody.
He was also ordered to pay £154 surcharge and £85 towards prosecution costs.
Magistrates also ordered the deprivation of his laser pointer.
Sergeant Michael Hayes of Cheshire Constabulary said: "While the person the police helicopter was searching for during this incident was ultimately located, shining the laser beam it its direction was incredibly dangerous, and could have seriously hindered their efforts to locate someone in need of help.
"The sentence handed to Warren should serve as a reminder of how serious this offence is considered.
"I hope it also reminds people of the risks associated with lasers, which some people may think of as a harmless device. This is far from the case and can have very serious consequences."
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