Man jailed after shining laser at police helicopter

CAERPHILLY A MAN who shone a laser directly at a police helicopter in the early hours of the morning claimed he was looking for a dropped cigarette when confronted by officers.

Matthew Davies, 33, was jailed at Cardiff Crown Court yesterday for irresponsibly directing a laser at an aircraft from the back garden of his Caerphilly home.

Pilot Robert Humphries and three other officers were called out by Gwent Police at 3am on March 17 to assist an investigation into a burglary in commercial premises just outside Caerphilly town centre.

But during the operation Mr Humphries said he was distracted by a “persistent and deliberate targeted” laser beam which focused on the aircraft for between 15 and 20 minutes.

Prosecutor David Pinnell said the laser “dazzled” Mr Humphries and prevented him from seeing the controls of the helicopter, which had already been compromised due to poor weather and night-time darkness.

Through the use of infra-red and heat detection cameras officers were on board were able to trace the laser’s location to an address in Dol yr Eos in Mornington Meadows, Caerphilly.

Mr Pinnell said: “Officers went to the rear and front of the property and saw the defendant, outside in his garden, who was still directing the laser towards the helicopter.”

Sentencing, Judge Michael Fitton QC said the offence was too serious to warrant a suspended sentence.

Davies was sentenced to seven months in jail.