A POLICE helicopter was forced to take evasive action after a man drowned its cockpit with a green laser light from a Crewe car park.

Mihail Dragan was told by magistrates that his actions were "very dangerous and could have had serious consequences endangering life and limb".

Dragan trained the laser light from the car park in Gresty Road onto the helicopter as its crew were on fire arms duty. South Cheshire Magistrates' Court heard the 28-year-old claimed he was trying to help the aircraft land as he thought it was in trouble.

But the "intense" green beam emanating from the laser torch forced the pilot to dive out of the way and lose altitude

Dragan, of Neville Street, Crewe pleaded guilty to a charge of exhibiting a light which by reason of its glare was liable to endanger aircraft on June 19 this year.

Prosecutor Aaron Smith said the police helicopter was maintaining a steady altitude when its cockpit was briefly illuminated by the green light.

"The helicopter dived left and lost altitude in order to avoid the green light. One of the officers realised it was a laser from the ground and they adorned eye protection glasses," said the prosecutor.

"Following further 'green light attacks' they were able to identify the area the laser beam was coming from."

A police patrol located Dragan, who was with his partner, and seized the laser torch from him.

When he was later arrested after failing to appear for a scheduled police interview, he told officers he was "trying to assist" as he thought the helicopter was in danger and "was helping it to land".

"The defendant confirmed the laser torch was his and said he did not realise it was dangerous, although he does now," added the prosecutor.

Dragan's solicitor, Jo Gregory, told the court, that it had been a very hot night and that the defendant heard the noise of an aircraft and "believed it was struggling to land".

"So he shone the torch at it, he didn't realise his actions were dangerous at the time. He apologises sincerely," she said.

Dragan, an Amazon delivery driver, was fined £800 and told to pay a victim surcharge of £80 and court costs of £85.

Magistrates made a deprivation order on the laser torch, which the court was told the defendant had bought in the Ukraine.