Dim dad caught red-handed shining laser at police helicopter

A dim dad who lied about directing a laser at a police helicopter confessed, "Oh, I'm f****d" when the police discovered it hidden under his sofa. The National Police Air Service (NPAS) helicopter was scouring County Durham for a missing person when it was targeted by a laser pen beam directed into the cockpit.

Footage reveals the culprit blinding the pilot with the green pen before the crew pinpoints his location. The miscreant was even caught on camera standing outside his front door, wielding the laser before hastily retreating indoors as the aircraft passed overhead. Just after 10 p.m. on June 29, a patrol car was dispatched to the property in Highland Terrace, Ferryhill, County Durham.

Bodycam footage captures officers descending on the address and questioning Colin Quinn, 44, who was in the middle of his dinner.

He insisted he had been watching TV with his wife and son when he heard a group of boys outside his property and went out to see what was happening.

Officers interrogated Quinn, with one remarking: "It's a naughty offence. You're a bit old to be shining lasers at a helicopter?".

Quinn responds: "Exactly right, mate. I've got better things to do mate."

Despite being informed that the helicopter cameras had recorded the laser lout on CCTV, Quinn continued to deny any wrongdoing.

He told the officers: "We've been watching the helicopter, two minutes ago. I was watching the lads to see what they were doing."

After officers expressed their belief that he was responsible for the laser incident, he invited them to search the house.

One officer then discovers the laser hidden under a sofa cushion. As Quinn realises he's been caught out, he exclaims: "Oh, I'm f****d."

He confessed to recklessly or negligently acting in a manner likely to endanger an aircraft or a person in an aircraft. On Tuesday (19 August), he was sentenced to four months in prison at Durham Crown Court and ordered to pay £154 in court costs.

Following the case, Sergeant Peter Newman, of Durham Constabulary, condemned Quinn's "stupidity".

He stated: "Every minute is valuable when searching for a missing person and Quinn's actions not only put our NPAS colleagues at risk but also meant that valuable resources were taken away from the search dealing with Quinn's stupidity. We hope this sentence will deter others who might think this type behaviour is acceptable."

Captain Paul Watts, Head of Flight Operations at NPAS, added: "Targeting aircraft with lasers is dangerous. It puts our crews at risk and can jeopardise public safety on the ground.

"NPAS crews are equipped to trace the source of these incidents, and we work closely with police forces to ensure swift action is taken. There are serious consequences for those who choose to engage in this kind of behaviour."