A man has been fined for "lasering" a police helicopter to dazzle or distract the pilot.

Arkadiusz Wozniewski, 32, of Walton Avenue, New Malden, shone the light at India 99 while it was hovering in an attempt to find up to 10 people walking across rooftops.

The search had to be called off.

Wozniewski admitted the offence, committed on Saturday, July 19 this year, at Wimbledon Magistrates' Court last Wednesday, October 8, and was fined £300.

He was also ordered to pay a victim surcharge of £30 and costs of £85.

India 99 is one of three Eurocopter EC145 helicopters bought by the Metropolitan Police in 2007, at a total cost of £15m.