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Dean Bottomley
Helicopter pilot 'blinded’ by laser beam prankster
by Jennifer Williams30/ 4/2008
A HEATON Norris man endangered the lives of a police helicopter pilot, his fellow officers and people on the ground by temporarily blinding him with a laser beam.
Dean Bottomley, 20, of Larwood Avenue, was playing around with a high-powered green laser at home when he pointed it directly at a police chopper flying overhead.
Stockport magistrates heard on Monday that the incident on Wednesday, April 16, put the lives of those on board the aircraft at risk. Lynn Rogers, prosecuting, said police pilot Mark Westwood had been flying over Brinnington at about 1am when he was suddenly blinded by a light.
She said: "The helicopter cockpit was filled with a dazzling green light so bright it made it impossible to see anything outside the aircraft. In effect this caused temporary blindness."
Mr Westwood, who had two police on board, turned the chopper out of the light but the beam kept returning, each time affecting his vision. Using a camera, one of his colleagues traced the source to an upstairs room of a house on Larwood Avenue, where police arrested Bottomley shortly afterwards.
Ms Rogers said there could have been grave consequences and the act of shining the beam into the cockpit could have damaged Mr Westwood’s eyesight, leaving him unable to continue in his job.
She added: "It could have resulted in loss of control of the aircraft, endangering others. He is fearful that an incident of this kind could result in him failing his aviation medical."
Stuart Thompson, defending, said Bottomley was aware of the seriousness of his actions and realised he was endangering the safety of the pilot. He said the defendant had made a full admission at the first possible opportunity, and had only one previous conviction, for taking a vehicle without consent.
Mr Thompson added: "He does regret his actions and knows that what he did was very stupid."
Bottomley pleaded guity to reckless actions likely to endanger an aircraft.
Sentencing will take place at Manchester Minshull Street Crown Court on Friday, June 6.
Most recent 2 of 9 user comments
6/05/2008 at 20:37
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These devices are useful and safe, if used sensibly. Cue another item we will probably be banned from owning just because some wastes of good oxygen are too stupid to be let near them.
6/05/2008 at 23:35