I live in the Vanguard Building and in my time here I can't remember helicopters landing on the roof!

Sheamus, London,

So let me get this right, it was accepted that Mr Voice didn't shine the light deliberately at the helicopter but did plead guilty. On pleading guilty and showing every intention to progress the case, the judge decided to throw a "disproportionate sanction" against him. 4 months is a long time....for doing what exactly? Pleading guilty as probably advised by his council. This is ridiculous. There are far greater crimes going on around us that have carried a far lesser sentence. Do us all a favour and stop wasting money on this unproven incident. I wonder if it would have made a difference if he wasn't a banker?

Craig, Berkshire, UK

As an ex-police pilot, I know from personal experience that this sort of thing happens a lot. There is no way that anyone can accidentally shine a light into a helicopter cockpit, any more than they would accidentally shine a powerful light into the eyes of a passing car driver. Both types of vehicle are lit at night; this aircraft undoubtedly had a landing light plus it's navigation lights on and was operating into a known landing site. I think it was almost certainly a deliberate act but unfortunately very difficult to prove as such. If there had been an accident, it is likely it would very wrongly have been put down to pilot error.

Paul Wheatley, Notts,

Thats just about the stupidest thing Ive heard in the last hour. (And I hear alot of idiotic stuff).

I own a 30 million candlepower flashlight and I do use it for disbanding vagrants and disabling ferrel animals. (Other pests dont like the light either.) It is a completely legitimate use of non-lethal force.

Be that as it may, a 5 million candlepower light is half as strong as the xenon headlamp from an acura or an audi. That pilot clearly had an unsafe craft if the errant beam of light from an auto comming over a hill is enough to disable him and require expert pilot skills.

Tom, Langley, BC, Canada

Being a neighbour of Mr Voice I am aware of what happened. It certainly was an accident, the cause of which was protecting property from groups of feral kids vandalising our private estate. If the local authorities actually patrolled the streets then this unfortunate incident would not have occurred in the first place. Further, perhaps the Times could get the facts accurate, the Vanguard landing site is NOT ON TOP OF A BUILDING, but simply a level piece of ground behind a storage warehouse. This week when a serial shop lifter with 175 arrests gets another chance, terrorists released early after only a few months in jail, how can the judiciary actually believe this sentence is just and in the name of public interest. Perhaps had Mr Voice been a singer openly taking drugs and driving cars at paparazzi he would have got off, but as he is an investment banker involved in much community work it is of no surprise he gets punished.

Steve, London, UK

From my reading of the case it looks like the guy was innocent . He had no intent, did not shine the light directly at the helicopter etc. That it was too bright for the instruments only means that the instruments are not bright enough, or that helicopters are not properly equipped for night flying with the (realistic) possibility of sudden bright light.

Looks like a miscarriage of justice, rather than a disproportionate sentence.

Greg Lorriman, Leatherhead, UK

The banker wasn't deliberately trying to blind the pilot, Leavon. He was shooing people off of his property by spotlighting them. The fact that there was a helicopter descending in the 'line of fire' was an unfortunate accident for everyone involved.

Nice troll, David Vid.

Jeff, Seattle, Washington

Being an ex-engineer who has flown many hours in the RAF in helicopters, the sentence sounds just about right. This fool's actions were similar to kids placing rocks on railway lines or throwing them at cars from a motorway bridge. Now he can think about it for a two months before he is released because the jails are too full.

B J Deller, Marbella, Spain

Hmm, Mr Simon Freeland QC respresents many police forces around the Country, including London, and could hardly be considered as impartial .

Steve, London, UK

"hmmm then agqain there is iraq and everyone knew people would die and the senseless action didn't support change."

There's also Afghanistan, everyone knew people would die there and they did it anyway.

Desert Storm? Same.

Interventions in Kosovo? Same.

Yugoslavia? Uh, yep.

Were you upset about those, too? Or is it okay when people die as long as you personally don't mind the cause?

Michael, Okc, OK

In America people have to die before things change. take a look at the twinky defence. hmmm then agqain there is iraq and everyone knew people would die and the senseless action didn't support change.

David Vid, Los Angeles, California

I wish would take as harsha stance here in the U.S. People are doing this sort of thing quite frequently and all I've seen imposed is a slap on the wrist.

Leavon, Denver, Colorado