A TEENAGER has admitted endangering a holiday passenger jet carrying 220 passengers by shining a laser pen into its cockpit.

The 17-year-old has also admitted doing the same thing to a police helicopter that was called out shortly afterwards to find the culprit.

Magistrates at Consett Youth Court were told he did not realise the strength of the device and was not deliberately trying to blind the pilots.

Clare Irving, prosecuting, said: “The laser was directed from the skylight window of a house.

“When in custody, he said what he had done was stupid and he should not have done it.”

The boy, who lives in the Pelton Fell area of Chester-le- Street, pointed the device into the cockpit of a Boeing 757 flying Jet2 passengers from Crete to Newcastle.

The incident is said to have happened as the aircraft was descending over the Pelton area on September 14.

He admitted two charges of recklessly or negligently acting in a manner likely to endanger an aircraft or person.

Suzanne Hanson, in mitigation, said: “The plane was at 5,000ft and he said that not for one minute did he think it would be able to travel that far. The pilot said it was something of an irritation. It didn’t cause any danger, but he rang through to say it was there to alert other pilots.

“None of the passengers were alerted to this and there was no panic. He did not realise he was causing any danger to an aircraft.”

The youth, who cannot be named, also admitted assaulting a female educational support worker in Chester-le- Street on September 29 by shining a light, from what Ms Hanson said was a pocket lighter and not a laser pen, into her eyes.

Presiding magistrate Professor David Smith bailed the boy until sentencing on February 4 pending the preparation of reports.