A fairly impressive warning to potential laser offenders in the West Midlands
Birmingham Evening Mail
A FORMER heroin addict who carried out a laser attack on a police helicopter flying above Birmingham has been jailed for 16 months.
Judge Paul Tomlinson told Joshua Bough: “It is obvious that you shone that light deliberately at the helicopter.
“It is obvious that you did it twice. The first time it was travelling at 100 knots.
“There was only one person in that aircraft capable of flying it and had he suffered eye damage the consequences could have been fatal, not just for those on board but also to others in their homes on the ground in what was plainly a built-up area.”
The judge said for the emergency services to be frustrated and put in danger was “intolerable”.
He added: “If we are to avoid the terrible consequences that will sooner or later follow if people behave as you did, the court will do what it can to protect the public and punish the offender.”
Bough, 28, of St Benedicks Road, Small Heath, had previously admitted a charge of recklessly endangering an aircraft. At an earlier hearing, pilot Trevor Tiller said he had been flying towards Birmingham Airport above Small Heath at about 10.25pm on March 28 this year when he saw the green light.
He said he had experienced five previous attacks and that the light could potentially damage the retina.
He said he immediately averted his eyes and warned two observers in the helicopter not to look at the beam.
Giving evidence, Bough claimed he had accidentally shone the beam into the air while trying to attract the attention of his dog.
But the judge rejected his account, saying he believed it had been a deliberate act.
Christopher Lester, prosecuting at Birmingham Crown Court, said cameras in the helicopter were able to track Bell, who was with his girlfriend, as they walked home.
Neil Davis, defending, said Bough had struggled throughout his life with an addiction to crack cocaine and heroin but had managed to wean himself off the drugs.
He said the contact between the helicopter and the torch was “a matter of seconds”.
Mr Davis added that Bell had made no attempt to run away or get rid of the torch.