Laser pen duo wanted by police after skipping court
A WARRANT has been issued for the arrest of two men who shone a laser pen at police riot helicopter.
Drunk pranksters David Blizycki, 26, and Artur Chat, 23, were due to be sentenced after endangering the lives of the crew as they monitored a riot from the air
But the Polish nationals failed to turn up for the hearing at Chester Crown Court on Wednesday, February 11.
Detectives are now trying to trace the men, who are known to have returned home to Poland, and bring them back to the UK to face justice.
Blizycki, formerly of Drummond Way, Macclesfield, and Chat, formerly of Green Lane, Alderley Edge, both admitted recklessly or negligently acting in a manner likely to endanger an aircraft or persons in an aircraft at Macclesfield magistrates’ court in January.
During the hearing magistrates heard that the National Police Air Service (NPAS) helicopter
. had been scrambled to Soss Moss mental health hospital in Nether Alderley after some patients became violent late at night on July 5 last year.
But while hovering at 1,200 feet, pilot Captain John Carr was forced to take immediate evasive action when the laser pen was shone at him, the court was told.
During a 20-minute ordeal the light beam was repeatedly aimed at the helicopter, causing the crew to abandon their role recording the riot.
The flight crew then used cameras to guide police colleagues on the ground to the culprits.
The court heard officers arrived at Pearson’s tomato farm in Alderley Edge and found a group of Polish nationals, including Blizycki and Chat, who admitted using the laser.
Debbie Byrne, prosecuting, said: “The consequences of Captain Carr being blinded by the light were dire, bearing in mind he was the sole pilot. In performing this evasive manoeuvre he was forced to abandon the operational task and was unable to continue.
“The light being shone at the aircraft lasted several minutes initially, followed by a series of further episodes during the next 20 minutes.”
Christopher Joseph, defending, said the men, who since the incident have moved back home to Poland, had not acted deliberately, adding: “This was an act of supreme drunken stupidity.”