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Jail for helicopter laser prank | Jail for helicopter laser prank |
(20 minutes later) | |
A 21-year-old man from Greater Manchester who temporarily blinded a police helicopter pilot with a laser pen has been jailed for four months. | |
Dean Bottomley, of Stockport, pleaded guilty to endangering an aircraft during an earlier hearing at Manchester Minshull Street Crown Court. | Dean Bottomley, of Stockport, pleaded guilty to endangering an aircraft during an earlier hearing at Manchester Minshull Street Crown Court. |
The court heard he bought the £30 pen on the internet and pointed it at the aircraft to see how far it could reach. | The court heard he bought the £30 pen on the internet and pointed it at the aircraft to see how far it could reach. |
Passing sentence, the judge urged him to "get out of this stupidity phase". | Passing sentence, the judge urged him to "get out of this stupidity phase". |
The court heard that the helicopter was flying over Heaton Norris in Stockport on 16 April when it was targeted by a bright green laser. | The court heard that the helicopter was flying over Heaton Norris in Stockport on 16 April when it was targeted by a bright green laser. |
This could clearly have had disastrous consequences for the helicopter and its crew Supt John O'Hare | This could clearly have had disastrous consequences for the helicopter and its crew Supt John O'Hare |
The light, which was being shone from the back bedroom window of a semi-detached house below, lit up the whole cockpit, leaving the pilot unable to see properly. | |
Bottomley "zapped" the aircraft up to 10 times with the laser, which had a range of up to five miles, the court heard. | |
Pilot Captain Mark Westwood told the court: "The overall effect was temporary blindness. I lost outside visual reference and could not see the instrumentation displayed in the aircraft." | |
After the first incident he had to fly blind, taking emergency evasive action to position the helicopter out of the beam. | |
He added: "It was a very dangerous manoeuvre, but I had to do it to get myself out of that dazzle." | |
The beam from the laser lit up the cockpit, police say | |
Captain Westwood said the helicopter had earlier been zapped by another laser pen a few miles away and aircraft were increasingly being targeted by people with the devices. | |
After the pilot called for back-up, officers were directed to the house on Larwood Avenue and Bottomley admitted he was responsible. | After the pilot called for back-up, officers were directed to the house on Larwood Avenue and Bottomley admitted he was responsible. |
Judge Mushtaz Khokhar, sentencing, said he had to make an example of him and imposed a "deterrent" sentence. | |
"You were reckless. There was a risk of catastrophic consequences ensuing if the pilot lost control of his helicopter," he said. | |
Speaking after the hearing, Supt John O'Hare, of Greater Manchester Police's Tactical Support Section, said Bottomley's actions "almost defied belief". | Speaking after the hearing, Supt John O'Hare, of Greater Manchester Police's Tactical Support Section, said Bottomley's actions "almost defied belief". |
"This could clearly have had disastrous consequences for the helicopter and its crew. | "This could clearly have had disastrous consequences for the helicopter and its crew. |
"In different circumstances this incident could have resulted in a serious injury or even death. | "In different circumstances this incident could have resulted in a serious injury or even death. |
"People might think that this is some sort of amusing prank, but I can assure you that it could have had deadly consequences." | "People might think that this is some sort of amusing prank, but I can assure you that it could have had deadly consequences." |