Man jailed for shining laser at police helicopter
It happened as officers were searching for a missing person
A man has been jailed, after he shone a laser beam at a police helicopter as Cheshire officers were searching for a missing person.
It happened on 27th August in Latchford, near Warrington.
David Warren, 41, of Eagle Mount in Latchford, was sentenced to 35 weeks in prison at Warrington Magistrates' Court last week (26th September).
The sentence includes 12 weeks for shining a laser beam towards an aircraft, and the activation of a previous suspended 23-week sentence for threatening a person with a weapon.
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Cheshire Police had been called to a concern for welfare of a man who was missing, and were working with a police helicopter crew above the Latchford/Stockton Heath area.
Shortly before 3.15am, an officer on board stated over the police radio that someone was shining a green laser out of the window of a property, aiming it at them.
Officers traced the laser to a property, where Warren was. He refused to allow officers in.
They forced entry, he was arrested, and a green laser was seized.
In an interview, Warren said he used the laser to point out the helicopter in the sky while recording it on his phone.
He was later charged with shining a laser beam towards an aircraft and pleaded guilty.
"Very serious consequences"
Sergeant Michael Hayes 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.”