Man's vision 'permanently changed' in laser attack

A man's vision has been left "permanently changed" after he was targeted by a group of youths with a laser.

Matthew was walking on Craven Street in Skipton on the evening of 3 January when his "entire left field of vision lit up bright green", he said.

The 35-year-old then saw eight or nine teenagers, with one holding a handheld laser device.

He reported the incident to North Yorkshire Police, with the force appealing for any witnesses to contact officers.

Matthew, who did not wish to share his surname due to a fear he could be targeted again, said he was on his way to the supermarket at the time of the incident.

"There was an intense sensation of burning pain, as you would have expect with light that bright," he said.

"Fortunately my reflex was to turn away from it."

He shared his experience in a community social media group and was advised by another member to visit an optician.

He found out that he had avoided damage to his retina, but had suffered "malformation caused to the lens in my left eye".

"Whilst I wasn't aware at the time, that sadly has permanently changed my vision," he said.

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Handheld laser devices can cause "a range of different kinds of damage to the eye", according to Ruth Darbyshire, an eye consultant at Harrogate Hospital.

"They can go undetected for a certain amount of time until you develop a problem, but there would be signs that perhaps an optician could see," she said.

Darbyshire, who is carrying out UK-wide research on injuries caused to the retina by handheld lasers, said they were not very common but "completely preventable".

Incidents were most common amongst teenage boys, she said, attributing these to "a type of dare".

She said many devices were more powerful than their label suggested and encouraged anyone concerned about eye damage to seek professional help.

Matthew added: "I almost felt a little bad going to the optician, thinking that my eyes were probably fine, only to then find out there had been a change to my vision."

It is legal to sell and own laser pens in the UK, however it is a criminal offence to shine a laser at moving vehicles.

Anyone caught dazzling a driver or pilot with a laser faces up to five years in prison and an unlimited fine.

North Yorkshire Police said it received a report that "a group of young people were shining a laser beam into traffic on Craven Street in Skipton" at about 18:15 GMT.

"We're investigating the incident and appeal to anyone who saw the incident, or anyone affected by the laser beam whilst they were driving, to please get in touch," a force spokesperson said.

Matthew, who has lived in Skipton for seven years, said he had received an "outpouring of support" after posting about the incident online.

"Quite a few people have come forward with their own testimony," he said, adding that one person reported a "similar experience" minutes after he was targeted.

Despite highlighting "escalating antisocial behaviour offences" in Skipton, Matthew said the town was an "incredibly wonderful place to live".

"The community reaction has been genuinely inspiring, he said.

"I don't think there's anywhere else I've lived where people would come forward like that."

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