Man avoids jail after shining laser at police aircraft in Telford
He's been handed a suspended sentence
A man has avoided jail after shining a laser at a police aircraft whilst it was dealing with an incident in Telford.
Reed Beers, 60, of Old Office Road in Dawley, Telford, pleaded guilty to dazzling or distracting a pilot.
The court heard how officers were called to Ketley Bank on 10th March to reports of a man with a suspected firearm.
The National Police Air Service sent a fixed-wing plane.
Beers shone a green laser at the aircraft, around an hour after it got to Telford.
Officers attended an address on Old Office Road and arrested Beers after tracking the laser to his address.
He told officers he'd been shining a red laser from an air rifle at a drone while trying to take a picture with his camera.
He also claimed that he checked the Flight Radar App to make sure there were no aircrafts in the area.
Officers checked the camera found in his bedroom, and no pictures had been taken that evening of any aircrafts.
Beers also claimed he didn't own a green laser, but footage from the NPAS proves the laser was coming from his window.
Officers later found two green laser pens hidden in his address.
Beers was given a 12 month prison sentence suspended for 12 months.
He must also forfeit his lasers.