Court hears magistrate's cold words for man who halted Northampton's A45 for four hours in mental health episode

A Magistrate scolded a defendant in court yesterday for "causing mayhem" in an incident where he threatened to end his life on a major Northampton road.

The incident in September this year saw the A45 close for four hours while police spoke with the man on a busy interchange.

The man - who the Chronicle & Echo has chosen not to name - was arrested at the end of the incident and charged with 'causing a public nuisance'.

Previous court hearings have heard how he had in fact been released from a Northampton town centre mental health clinic just hours before the incident and was reportedly "hearing voices" when he decided to go to the major road.

He was also reportedly grieving the death of his young child at the time.

But at his sentencing at Northampton Magistrate's Court today (December 21), chairperson of the bench Mr Aaron Day coldly told the man: "If we were to send you to prison I don't think any one member of the public who was in traffic that day would complain, and would say 'that's where he should be'."

The Magistrate began his comments with: "Look at me and take your hands out of your pockets while I'm sentencing you.

"We have considered sending you to prison today. For your own reasons you caused absolute mayhem in the town.

"I don't think you would last two months in there [prison].

"But we will go wit the recommendation [not to send him to prison].

"So it's in your hands to stay out of trouble. If you don't we will reopen this and it's highly likely you will go to prison."

The other magistrate who took part in the man's sentencing was Mr Scott Richards, who did not address the defendant.

The man was handed an 18-month "conditional release" order and ordered to pay a total of £225 in court costs.

In the incident in September, police shut off the Barnes Meadow flyover section of the A45 in both directions for more than four hours.

Traffic backed up on to the M1 and to the Billing Interchange with more delays on Bedford Road and Rushmere Road.

Three Northampton Town players heading to their side's League One clash with AFC Wimbledon at Sixfields were among those caught up in the queues and did not arrive at the ground until 30 minutes before kick-off.

The interchange reopened at around 3.50pm.

Chief Inspector Julie Mead, said: “We work closely with our partners in mental health in order to make the right decisions to best protect those in crisis, to ensure they receive the most appropriate support and therapy.

“While we can’t comment on specific cases, what I will say is, sometimes an arrest is the best course of action - this is especially pertinent when other people are being put at risk.

“Our partners in mental health are experts in their field and our response to incidents involving anybody suspected of having a mental health crisis is made in consultation with them.

“Operation Alloy is an initiative involving a partnership between police officers and mental health professionals to deliver street triage services direct to people experiencing mental health distress, offering real time consultation and attending many jobs police are called to.”