RECKLESS yobs are putting lives at risk by shining laser pens at the police helicopter.

Essex Police revealed the lights were shone into pilots’ eyes 15 times so far this year, an increase from seven in 2008.

Essex Police spokesman Nishan Wijeratne said a number of people have been arrested and bailed in connection with some of the incidents, but would not give further details.

He said: “We will always arrest, charge, prosecute and publicise the incident when we catch people doing this in a bid to deter what is a very dangerous practice.”

The problem has been reported across the county and in August, Michael May, of Ruskin Road, Chadwell St Mary, was jailed for six months for doing it.

The 53-year-old momentarily blinded the crew by shining the beam directly into the cockpit.

At Southend Crown Court, Ian Elkins, prosecuting, said: “Not only did May act in a reckless manner, with potentially fatal consequences, endangering the aircraft and the officers in it, but he also prevented the officers from doing their job.”

May admitted a charge of endangering a police aircraft at a earlier hearing at Basildon Crown Court.

However, he always claimed that, even though he was in possession of the pen, he didn’t intentionally target the helicopter.

Laser pointers can cause temporary blindness lasting a few seconds which is very dangerous for drivers and pilots.