The crew, who were flying at 600ft, then alerted officers on the ground who swooped on Manby at his Huddersfield home.

Prosecutor Tahir Khan claimed Manby must have known that shining a laser beam would put the police helicopter in great danger.

He said: “This laser gave off a powerful beam of light and he knew full well what its capabilities were.”

Manby, a shop supervisor, received a suspended 10-month prison sentence after admitting shining the laser. He was cleared of doing so with intent to endanger the aircraft. 

He must also do 80 hours of community service following his conviction at Bradford Crown Court.

Judge Peter Benson told him: “On that night you behaved in a completely foolhardy way.

“We have heard from the pilot and the implications are that it was very fortunate the weather conditions were very good, otherwise the distraction caused by the beam might have had other consequences.”

Manby admitted in court: “It is the most stupid thing I have ever done in my life.”

Pilot Mr Carter said: “Having used lasers in the past I’m aware that certain lasers can cause eye injuries so I was keen not to look directly at it.

“I turned the aircraft away from the laser so there wasn’t an imminent threat.”

He added: “It made flying the aircraft more difficult.”