Admin l Monday, February 06, 2017
HENDON, United Kingdom – Limshin Chung Ching Wan, 42 is now licking his wounds in jail for deliberately pointing a laser pen at a police helicopter causing a crew member to lose their vision.
Wan of Blackdown Close, N2, pleaded guilty to recklessly and negligently acting in a manner likely to endanger an aircraft at Hendon Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday, 31 January.
Police were called to an address in Blackdown Close, East Finchley on 12 January 2017 after a National Police Air Service Helicopter was targeted with a green laser light several times, causing a crew member to momentarily lose vision.
The aircraft was repositioned to protect the pilot and local officers from Barnet’s Response Team swiftly attended the address where it was believed the laser pen was being used.
Chung Ching Wan was questioned about the laser being shone out of the window and he initially denied having any laser pens. However, when the seriousness of the offence was explained Chung Ching Wan produced a laser pen.
Officers arrested Chung Ching Wan and seized a total of four high powered laser pens.
Chung Ching Wan shone the laser at the aircraft numerous times, he also opened the window of the address to shine the laser out and up at the aircraft.
Sergeant Jamie Kay from Barnet said: “My officers work closely with the National Police Air Service following any laser attack providing a fast response using sophisticated mapping technology to surround and search any address containing offenders. As is demonstrated in this case, this usually leads to their prompt arrest. Shining a laser at an aircraft is incredibly dangerous.
“The helicopter was over a built up area and this had the potential to lead to catastrophic results both for the occupants of the helicopter and wholly innocent members of the public below who were probably sleeping in their beds. This was not accidental but a deliberate act by Chung Ching Wan. Lasers are not toys and they should be handled responsibly.”
Chung Ching Wan will be sentenced at Harrow Crown Court on a date to be confirmed. Currently, it is an offence to shine lasers at pilots and offenders could face fines of up to £2,500 and/or up to five years in prison.
On Sunday, 5 February, the Secretary of State for Transport MP Chris Grayling announced that those shining lasers at pilots, train or bus drivers could face fines of thousands of pounds or a jail sentence under stronger new powers designed to protect the public.
Mr Grayling said: “Shining a laser pointer at pilots or drivers is incredibly dangerous and could have fatal consequences. Whilst we know laser pens can be fun and many users have good intentions, some are not aware of the risks of dazzling drivers or pilots putting public safety at risk. That’s why we want to take the common sense approach to strengthen our laws to protect the public from those who are unaware of the dangers or even worse, intentionally want to cause harm. This kind of dangerous behaviour risks lives and must be stopped.
“There are around 1,500 laser attacks on aircraft every year in the UK and we know there have been similar attacks on trains and buses. What I am announcing today (5 February) are plans to give the police effective powers to investigate and bring those who misuse lasers to justice.”
