Semaphore Park man John Kevin Wallace pleads not guilty to Polair laser attack

A police helicopter was but an innocent bystander in an “unaware” man’s attempts to shoo away a drone he thought was surveilling him, a court has heard.

A man who shone a laser into the eyes of a police helicopter pilot was trying to shoo away a drone he thought was spying on him, a court has heard.

Semaphore Park man John Kevin Wallace chose not to heed Magistrate Elizabeth Sheppard’s advice to get legal counsel when he simultaneously pleaded not guilty to the subsequent charges while making the admission.

Mr Wallace, who opted against counsel saying his “sincerity” could only come from his “own voice”, told the court he shone the laser at a red light in the sky he believed was a drone and apologised to the police officer who copped the green beam to their eyes.

The court heard the PolAir chopper was flying above Mawson Lakes in mid-April when it was bombarded with three “strikes” of the laser.

A police prosecutor said an officer on board the chopper had to hold their hand up to stop the laser from impairing their sight.

John Kevin Wallace has pleaded not guilty to shining a laser at a Polair helicopter. Picture: Brinley Duggan

A file photo of a PolAir helicopter. Picture: File

“The laser being shone at the Polair helicopter was captured on camera,” the prosecutor said.

“There are three different strikes of the green laser through the helicopter and I understand during (it) one of the police officers in the helicopter hand to continuously hold up his right hand against the side of his face to protect his eyes from the laser that was penetrating from that side.”

Mr Wallace was arrested on April 14 after officers in the chopper honed in on where the beam had come from and notified Western District patrols on the ground.

When he was arrested, police say, Mr Wallace had the laser in his pocket.

The charges faced by Mr Wallace, two of prejudicing the safe operation of an aircraft and one of use or have possession of a prohibited weapon – being the laser, carry with them a maximum penalty of 14 years’ jail if proven.

Mr Wallace told the court he was “unaware” he was shining the laser at a helicopter, instead saying he was “asking the vehicle to go away” believing it was a drone.

“(I saw) a red light through my blinds and I did not know it was a manned vehicle,” he said.

“It was making no motion that it was a manned vehicle, no indication, it was just a little red light.

“In regards to thinking I was being viewed, I’ve had a drone above me before when a person came to my door and threatened my wellbeing.

“I wouldn’t shine it into somebody’s eyes (and) I had no idea it was a weapon.”

Ms Sheppard counted the appearance as an answer charge date ahead of Mr Wallace to next come before the court in November.