Mike Keegan and Jennifer Williams
1/ 5/2008
A POLICE helicopter pilot faced disaster when he was blinded by a powerful laser shone from the ground by a yob.
Pilot Mark Westwood was dazzled by the green beam which filled his cockpit above the streets of Stockport.
But he managed to keep control of the aircraft - then used its powerful cameras to trap the culprit in the bedroom of his home.
He managed to turn away from the dazzling rays, which left him and two colleagues in fear of their lives.
Seconds later, using a thermal imaging camera, one officer pinpointed the laser beam to an upstairs room at a house hundreds of feet below.
Within minutes, officers on the ground swooped on 20-year-old Dean Bottomley at his home in Larwood Avenue, Heaton Norris.
He was hauled before Stockport magistrates and could face a custodial sentence after he pleaded guilty to endangering an aircraft. He will be sentenced next month.
Lynn Rogers, prosecuting, said it could have resulted in `grave consequences'.
Stupid
She said: "It could have resulted in loss of control of the aircraft, endangering others."
Stuart Thompson, defending, said: "He does regret his actions and knows what he did was very stupid."
Incredibly, it was the second similar incident in one evening.
Just two hours earlier the same helicopter was hit by what police believe was a separate laser beam, this time from a house in nearby Reddish.
A 43-year-old man was arrested and has since been bailed on a similar charge.
The incidents have raised fears a rogue batch of lasers are being sold in the area.
Their beams are said to be more powerful than normal laser pens.
Last night Bottomley said he bought the pen for £45 off e-bay.
He said he intended to use it to look at the stars, but got a bit `giddy' when he saw the police helicopter. He said he was stunned when police arrived at his home and arrested him.
He added: "It's used for looking at stars and that's what I bought it for. When I saw the helicopter I was just having a bit of a laugh.
"I didn't really realise how serious it was."
