A MAN who spends his days experimenting with lasers has been fined £300 for shining one at a police helicopter as it was flying over Bournemouth.

Ashley Carpenter, aged 49, of Montgomery Avenue in West Howe, admitted to shining the light at a police MD902 explorer helicopter, so as to dazzle or distract the pilot and crew, at Bournemouth Magistrates' Court.

He also pleaded guilty to resisting arrest when officers apprehended him at his home a few weeks after the incident.

According to a Dorset Police spokesman, the NPAS police helicopter was attending an incident in the Bournemouth area around 1.30am on Wednesday, April 6.

"As it was flying over the West Howe area the crew noticed that a laser pen was being shone at them potentially causing distraction to the pilot and crew," she added.

"Following an investigation police were able to identify the address where the laser had come from and Ashley Carpenter was arrested."

At court Carpenter was fined £280 and ordered to pay a victim surcharge of £20. An order was also made for the laser pen to be forfeited and destroyed.

Speaking to the Echo about the incident Carpenter said it was an "accident" and he was "extremely embarrassed by the whole thing".

"I am currently experimenting with lasers to see how sound waves can affect light waves," he said.

"The green light beam was shining throughout my flat reflecting off various objects in the bedroom and living room and it must have accidentally reflected off one of the taps in the kitchen and shone out of the window towards the helicopter.

"I'm really embarrassed by what's happened and have now had blinds fitted in the kitchen and new curtains in my bedroom."

Speaking about his experiments Carpenter said he was part of an online community trying to see how far he can alter light waves using sound.

More than 1,400 incidents of lasers being shone at aircrafts were reported to the UK's Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) in 2015.

The number was slightly lower than in 2014 - but reports by police helicopter pilots more than doubled.

In July last year a laser was shone at a Flybe aircraft as it attempted to land at Bournemouth Airport.

Lasers can distract pilots as they attempt to land, potentially putting lives at risk.

Green lasers are said to be stronger than red, and their lights can expand as they travel, possibly blocking a pilot's view.

Dave Taylor, head of safety for the National Police Air Service said: "The increasing number of laser attacks on aircraft worldwide is a source of serious concern to the aviation industry.

"The impact on a pilot is at the very least distracting, but can be serious enough to cause temporary 'flash' blindness and in some cases lasting eye damage. This affect can of course be hazardous to flight.

"What may seem harmless fun to the culprit could potentially have devastating consequences for the crew and passengers in the aircraft as well as innocent members of public on the ground.

"The National Police Air Service is working with colleagues from across the UK aviation sector in order to manage this risk and to reduce the number of flight crews that become victims of these attacks.

"We are currently conducting a laser eyewear protection trial in order to provide our pilots and flight crews with the means to protect themselves against this threat in future."