Community work for laser strike

An Auckland man who shone a laser into the cockpits of an Air New Zealand plane and police helicopter has avoided jail and a hefty fine.

Jesse James Halpin appeared in the North Shore District Court yesterday and was sentenced to supervision and community work.

Halpin shone a green laser directly at an Air New Zealand plane from North Head Reserve as the aircraft was coming in to land at Auckland Airport about 8.30pm on April 4.

Judge Lawrence Hinton said the pilot was momentarily distracted from the landing procedure by a bright green beam.

About half an hour later, the police Eagle helicopter flew over North Head Reserve. Again, the 27-year-old man shone a laser beam directly at the aircraft and into the cockpit.

Judge Hinton said this impaired the pilot’s capacity to safely fly the helicopter for a short period of time.

A victim impact statement from the Air New Zealand pilot explained that laser strike was so dangerous because it takes precious minutes for their eyesight to adjust back to night flying conditions.

“You must be deterred and the general public must be deterred, and your general misconduct denounced,” Judge Hinton said.

He convicted Halpin on one charge of causing an aircraft to be operated in a manner causing unnecessary danger. This charge carries a maximum penalty of one year’s imprisonment or a $10,000 fine.

The Glenfield local was also convicted and discharged on one count of procuring/possessing cannabis. He will receive 12 months’ supervision and undertake 100 hours of community work.