A man who aimed a laser pen at a police helicopter as it searched for a missing person has been jailed, Durham Police confirmed.

The offender, Colin Quinn, 44, of Ferryhill, County Durham, was caught after the helicopter’s onboard imaging equipment traced the source of the beam. Although Quinn initially denied the offense, officers discovered the laser hidden inside his sofa.

At Durham Crown Court on August 19, Quinn was sentenced to four months in prison and ordered to pay a £154 fine for endangering the safety of an aircraft.

Police warned that shining lasers at aircraft poses a serious risk to crews and the public, noting that even brief flashes can blind or distract pilots during critical operations.