Melvin Joyce admitted endangering the aircraft’s safety during an incident in January of this year when he directed a laser at it from the Dunmore area of North Belfast on January 21.
Air Support Unit targeted by the beam directed officers to a house entered by those suspected of involvement and an arrest was subsequently made.
The defendant yesterday pleaded guilty to shining a laser beam towards a moving helicopter with the likelihood of dazzling or distracting the pilot and admitted a second count of recklessly or negligently endangering the safety of an aircraft.
He was sentenced to four months in custody for shining the laser.
A spokesperson for Police Service Northern Ireland said: “Air Support Unit exists to try and protect people so to target us and endanger both our officers and the public is totally irresponsible and wrong. We hope this sends a clear message to those who would consider such reckless behaviour about the dangers of doing so and that we will pursue offenders who commit these acts”.
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