A man who was caught shining a laser pen at a police helicopter as crew attempted to find a missing man has been locked up.

Colin Quinn repeatedly shone his laser into the helicopter's cockpit during a desperate search for a missing person.

The crew alerted officers on the ground and gave them a location.

When Quinn was questioned at his home, he blamed a group he insisted had been outside his house.

But he was heard saying "oh I’m f*****" when officers found his laser hidden in sofa.

He apologised and said his actions were due to a combination of stupidity and intoxication, Durham Police said.

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The National Police Air Service (NPAS) was flying above open land as part of the missing person operation in J

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