Laser beam incident goes to court

A 23-year-old Oldham man has been charged after a laser light was shone at the Greater Manchester Police force helicopter.

Mobosir Ali (23), of Newport Street, has been charged with shining a light at an aircraft in flight so as to dazzle or distract the pilot.

He will appear at Oldham Magistrates Court on January 20.

The helicopter was assisting officers with a search when the incident happened at about 12.50am on Sunday. Officers on the ground were directed to a house on Park Road, Oldham and Ali was arrested.



Two Oldham teenagers appeared in court for shining a potentially blinding laser beam at a flying police helicopter in a similar offence last June.

The youths, aged 17 and 18, were each fined £115 after pleading guilty to the offence which occurred in the Derker area.