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Scotland: Clydebank man aims laser at moving police car, gets 18+ months

Kevin Ayre, 30
Clydebank, Dunbartonshire, Scotland


On September 20 2017, Ayre was sentenced to 18 months in jail for aiming a green laser beam at a police car driving on Kirkton Avenue in Knightswood, Glasgow. On August 31 2017, he had admitted in court to culpably and recklessly, repeatedly pointing the laser pen at a moving police car causing the driver to become distracted and to the danger of the officers in the car. He also admitted attempting to pervert the course of justice by giving police false information when he was detained.

The laser incident occurred March 6 2016, at about 1:20 am. Officers in a marked car saw green light in their car. According to a prosecutor, “The rear windscreen was a dazzling green color. The sergeant who was driving felt distracted and alarmed and immediately stopped the vehicle on the road.”

The officers could tell the light came from the 13th floor of a 23-story apartment building, but could not determine exactly which apartment. Other offices arrived to help and eventually saw a man with an object emitting a bright green light in one of the windows. Ayre was arrested in the apartment. He gave police a false name of “Kriss Ayre” and a false birthdate.

During interrogation at the police station, he acknowledged using the laser and giving false information.

He later was arrested for other crimes, including stalking a woman while on bail for the laser offense, throwing glass bottles onto a sidewalk, and skipping a December 2016 court appearance.

For the stalking and glass-throwing incidents, on October 6 2017 Ayre was given an extra 130 days, to be served after his 18 month sentence from Glasgow Sheriff Court is up.

From the Clydebank Post, Evening Times and Planet Radio.com

Scotland: One year in jail for aiming laser pen at police helicopter

Craig Ryan, 23
Stevenston, North Ayrshire, Scotland

Craig Ryan laser

In September 2014, a Police Scotland helicopter was illuminated several times with green laser light while looking for a gunman. The pilot had to take evasive action. The beam was tracked to Ryan’s home. Ryan told officers, “I’m sorry, it was me.”

In December 2015, Ryan admitted “culpable and reckless conduct.” He was sentenced to one year in jail.

From the Scotsman and BBC News

Scotland: 240 hours of community service for ADHD man who lased police helicopter, 8 weeks before copter crashed into pub

Grant Jones, 24
Edinburgh, Scotland

Grant Jones laser

Jones was sentenced to 240 hours of community service on June 2 2014, for aiming a green laser beam at a Police Scotland helicopter.

The incident occurred on October 1 2013. The helicopter pilot turned the craft away from the beam, to avoid the light. Other crew used infrared cameras to track the perpetrator and direct ground officers to his location. The officers found a laser pen in the possession of Grant Jones, 24, and arrested him.

Jones avoided jail time “because his actions were linked to his Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder”, according to an Edinburgh Evening Times news story.

The same helicopter crashed into a pub in Glasgow on November 29 2013, killing all three on board plus seven persons on the ground. There is no linkage between Jones’ laser illumination and the crash 60 days later, which was caused by both engines flaming out.

Scotland: 9 months in jail

Christopher Paton, 22
Glasgow, Scotland
On September 12 2009, Paton repeatedly aimed his green laser at a police helicopter that was searching for two lost 4-year-olds. The crew filmed the location of the laser, enabling ground officers to easily find and arrest Paton. In April 2012, he was sentenced to nine months in jail for endangering the crew.