Co Antrim man who shone laser at police helicopter sentenced next month

Alan Armstrong, from Kinbayne Avenue in Greenisland, appeared in Belfast Crown Court on a charge of endangering the safety of an aircraft.

The 35-year-old was charged with acting in a manner likely to endanger an aircraft or any person in the aircraft, on September 19, 2015.

When the charge was put to Armstrong, he replied “guilty”.

Defence barrister Richard McConkey requested a pre-sentence report be compiled for his client, and also asked that Armstrong be released on continuing bail.

Both requests were granted by Judge Gordon Kerr QC, who told Armstrong: “I am releasing you on continuing bail and your case will be dealt with on April 12. Do not take the fact that you are on bail as any indication of the likely sentence that will be passed in this case.”

Armstrong was ordered to appear before the same court for sentencing next month.