A FARNWORTH man has been told to hand over his laser pen and drugs after he shone a light at a police helicopter.

Officers were flying over Moses Gate Country Park at 1.15am on May 23 in search of a missing person, but had to abandon the investigation because James Hunt pointed his laser pen at their helicopter.

A camera on the aircraft captured Hunt, aged 27, committing the offence from his bedroom window in Bentley Close and police arrested him later that day.

Hunt admitted recklessly acting in a manner likely to endanger an aircraft in August and possession of cannabis.

Yesterday he was given a community order for 12 months, combined with a supervision order, at Bolton Magistrates Court.

He was also fined £20 and ordered to pay a £60 victim surcharge, and was told to forfeit a laser pen and an amount of cannabis.

The case had been delayed to allow psychiatric reports to be carried out.