A man who dazzled a police helicopter crew with a laser pen during a late night party has been given a suspended prison sentence after he admitted endangering an aircraft.
Chris Vowles was with friends in the back garden of a house in Kitts Green, Birmingham, when he targeted the helicopter on 31 July.
The crew were left disorientated as they were hit by the beam several times as they prepared for a surveillance mission.
Using thermal imaging cameras, they picked out Vowles as he laughed and toasted the prank with friends. The group could be seen gesturing toward the helicopter and raising their beer bottles.
Police on the ground were sent to their location and the 23-year-old shop worker, from Sandwell, was arrested on suspicion of acting recklessly in a manner likely to endanger an aircraft.
Footage from the helicopter showed Vowles attempt to the throw the laser pen over a fence.
He was sentenced at Birmingham Crown Court to seven months in prison, suspended for two years. He was also ordered to carry out 250 hours of unpaid work, and pay a £100 victim surcharge and £300 court costs.
Martin Knowles, West Midlands region National Police Air Service (NPAS) manager, said it was a deliberate act.
He said: "The demeanour of the people in the garden illustrates the attitude of many people - laughing and joking and believing their actions were somehow harmless fun.
"But aiming a laser pen at any aircraft, be it a police helicopter, air ambulance or commercial plane, can have disastrous consequences - it's certainly no laughing matter."
NPAS pilot Andy Shanks said he had been targeted "countless" times by laser pens during his 33-year flying career.
He said: "It's disorientating, makes it impossible to focus on the instrument panel and is extremely dangerous as even a momentary loss of control can be crucial.
"In a worst case scenario crew members struck in the eye can suffer eye damage - that happened recently to an observation officer in Ripley who suffered retina damage after being hit with the laser whilst looking through binoculars."
Anda sedang membaca artikel tentang
Man Dazzled Helicopter Crew With Laser Pen
Dengan url
http://kotasepisunyi.blogspot.com/2014/10/man-dazzled-helicopter-crew-with-laser.html
Anda boleh menyebar luaskannya atau mengcopy paste-nya
Man Dazzled Helicopter Crew With Laser Pen
namun jangan lupa untuk meletakkan link
Man Dazzled Helicopter Crew With Laser Pen
sebagai sumbernya
0 komentar:
Posting Komentar