A man who shone a laser pointer at a police helicopter while out walking his dog forced the pilot to make an emergency landing.
Stuart Bowering, right, now faces a possible jail sentence after a court heard his actions impaired the crew's vision and caused them to abort their intelligence-gathering mission.
The incident last December is just one of what police say is a growing number of attacks on aircraft with laser pointers, which emit a concentrated beam of light and are designed for indoor use to highlight items during presentations. But they can dazzle and distract drivers and pilots at long distances if shone at their eyes.
At Bristol Magistrates' Court yesterday Bowering pleaded guilty to a charge of negligently acting in a manner likely to endanger an aircraft.
The court heard the 31-year-old was walking his dog near his home in Hawkfield Road, Hartcliffe, at about 9.10pm on December 3, when the laser pointer he was shining into the sky connected with a police helicopter. The green light from the pen refracted from the cockpit canopy and impaired the vision of pilot Paul Maddox, forcing him to head to seek a landing at the nearest possible opportunity at Bristol Airport.
Jeremy Oliver, prosecuting, said: "Mr Maddox says he saw a green light enter the cockpit, which lasted for approximately 15 seconds. He said, 'I was aware that the laser light could distract me and put temporary black spots in my vision'."
Richard Simms, who was riding alongside Mr Maddox as an observer when the incident occurred, said: "The shafts of light were moving around the cockpit, restricting me from my task."
Bowering was immediately traced after police were alerted on the ground and when arrested he told them he had borrowed the laser pen from a friend and did not realise the beam would reach so far.
Mr Oliver added: "When the defendant was shown the CCTV images from the helicopter he said he was shocked at the power of the beam."
Emily Evens, defending Bowering, said: "He says he was shining it in the sky and it was making a pretty pattern when the helicopter flew into the beam.
"He was aware it was an offence to shine a laser pen at a helicopter."
Presiding magistrate Michael Loughlin told Bowering he would have to be sentenced at Bristol Crown Court as the magistrates – who can impose a maximum sentence of six months' imprisonment – did not feel they would be able to impose an adequate sentence.
During the hearing a statement from a Metropolitan Police expert described the dangers laser pens can cause.
It read: "A pilot needs approximately 13 minutes to adapt to night flying. The low level that they fly at means they need to have very good vision. Through the refractions on the glass, a laser pen could obscure this vision from inside the cockpit."
After the case Chief Superintendent Lawrie Lewis, Avon and Somerset Police's Head of Operations, told the Evening Post of his concern at the increasing number of similar incidents.
He said: "In 2010 there were 90 reported laser hits against aircraft and last year more than 100 incidents involving aircraft and vehicles.
"This is something we take seriously. Anyone who shines a laser at an aircraft performs a dangerous and reckless act.
"When a laser is directed at any aircraft it puts life at risk and, in the case of the police helicopter, can hinder the apprehension of offenders and delay the investigation of crime.
"Those who use the pens need to know that they face arrest and possible prosecution if they are caught."
In the UK, the sale of laser pointers with a power greater than one milliwatt is illegal. But imports are not restricted and their availability on the internet means that they are now more common in this country.
A spokesman for the Civil Aviation Authority said: "The danger to aircraft is when the lasers are in range they are usually coming in to land and this is exactly when pilots need maximum concentration."
James Gore, head of communications at Bristol Airport, said: "The growing number of incidents of this nature at airports across the UK is a concern for all involved in aviation."
Source: http://www.thisisbristol.co.uk
No comments:
Post a Comment