A 44-year-old man, Colin Quinn, has been sentenced to four months in prison for shining a green laser directly into the cockpit of a police helicopter crew assisting with a missing person search in Ferryhill.
On the evening of June 29, the National Police Air Service (NPAS) crew was supporting ground officers when Quinn repeatedly targeted their aircraft with the laser, putting the safety of the crew and public at risk.
Ground officers were alerted to Quinn’s dangerous actions and, with the helicopter’s help, traced the laser back to his home on Highland Terrace. Initially denying the offense, Quinn later confessed after police found the laser pen hidden beside his sofa.
Quinn was arrested and charged with recklessly or negligently endangering an aircraft or people onboard. During custody, he apologized, attributing his behavior to intoxication and poor judgment.
At Durham Crown Court on August 19, Quinn was sentenced to four months in prison and ordered to pay £154 in court costs.
Sergeant Peter Newman of Ferryhill Neighbourhood Policing Team emphasized the seriousness of the offense, stating Quinn’s actions diverted crucial resources from the search for the missing person and endangered NPAS personnel.
Captain Paul Watts, Head of Flight Operations at NPAS, warned that targeting aircraft with lasers is dangerous, threatening both aircrew and public safety. NPAS crews are equipped to quickly trace these incidents and work closely with police forces to ensure offenders are swiftly dealt with.
