by Keith Hunt

A teenager has been locked up for five months for shining a laser beam at a police helicopter at night and temporarily blinding the pilot.

Jordan Burnett was told by a judge his actions could have been potentially disastrous and devastating.

Maidstone Crown Court heard Essex Police helicopter pilot John Atkinson was flying from Rochester airfield to Basildon at about 2,000ft in the early hours of June 28 this year.

Martin Yale, prosecuting, said it was passing over Chattenden when a green light lit up the whole of the cockpit.

"Those in the helicopter described it as an accurate and sustained attack," he said. "The pilot was forced to take his right hand off the control stick to shield his eyes. He had to effectively swap hands.

"He turned the helicopter away from the beam. He describes losing his night vision and having to fly in a particular manner to get the beam away from interfering with his control of the helicopter."

Mr Yale said the helicopter returned to the scene and the beam was again shone repeatedly at it. Again, evasive action was taken.

The source of the beam was traced to 18-year-old Burnett's home in Elmwood Road, Chattenden, and he immediately owned up to aiming the laser pen at the helicopter.

He told police he had not believed the beam would reach that far. He denied shining it the first time.

"He said he would not have shone it at a car because it would probably make it crash, but he did not apply the same logic tot he helicopter because it was too far away," said the prosecutor.

Burnett, now of Chelmar Road, Chatham, admitted recklessly or negligently acting in a manner likely to endanger an aircraft.

Judge Jeremy Carey said: "It is an occurrence which plainly those who fly at a low level are extremely concerned about because of its potentially disastrous effect."

He added he would accept that Burnett did not shine the laser on the first occasion but said it "beggared belief" that he would not have been aware of it.