Man who shone laser pen at police helicopter jailed

A man who shone a laser pen at a police helicopter during a search for a missing person has been jailed.

David Warren admitted pointing the green laser at the aircraft from a window in his home in Cheshire shortly before 03:15 BST on 27 August.

Cheshire Police said it was "incredibly dangerous and could have seriously hindered their efforts to locate someone in need of help".

The 41-year-old, of Latchford, was jailed at Warrington Magistrates’ Court for 35 weeks after admitting shining a laser beam towards an aircraft. The sentence included the activation of a 23-week suspended sentence for threatening a person with a weapon.

Police said an officer on board the helicopter stated over the police radio that someone was shining a laser out of the window of a home, aiming it at them.

Officers were able to trace where the laser was coming from but Warren refused to allow officers in his home.

Officers forced entry and he was subsequently arrested and a laser device was seized.

In a police interview Warren, of Eagle Mount, admitted the offence and said he was using the laser to point out the helicopter in the sky while recording it on his phone.

Sgt Michael Hayes said: "While the person the police helicopter was searching for during this incident was ultimately located, shining the laser beam in 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."

Listen to the best of BBC Radio Merseyside on Sounds and follow BBC Merseyside on Facebook, X, and Instagram. You can also send story ideas to [email protected] and via Whatsapp to 0808 100 2230.