Northampton's message to Magistrate who told mentally-unwell A45 man 'no one would complain' if he sent him to prison

The Chronicle & Echo's readers have rejected the cold remarks of a magistrate who told a mentally-unwell man 'no one would complain' if he was jailed for halting the A45 for four hours during a mental health episode.

Yesterday, the Chron published the court case of a man who was charged with public nuisance following a mental health episode on a busy Northampton road in summer.The incident halted traffic on the A45 and the M1 for four hours while police spoke to the man as he threatened to end his life.

However, yesterday this newspaper published magistrate Mr Aaron Day's unfeeling remarks to the man as he sentenced him, saying: "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."

But the Chron's readers have reacted with anger and bewilderment at the magistrate's comments.

"I would complain," wrote one reader, Chloe Cross. "I would complain over and over and over again if this man got sent to jail for 'causing a public nuisance', because I would spend all day in traffic if it meant someone got the help and support they needed."

"I was caught up in the traffic this day and I can solely say I DO NOT feel this way," wrote another reader, Rebecca Bellamy.

"Four hours of my life was stopped whilst I was in a traffic queue - I’d rather that than an entire man's life taken away."

The court heard how the man in the case - who the Chron has chosen not to name - 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.

The magistrate dismissed the man's actions as: "For your own reasons you caused absolute mayhem in the town."

"I am shocked and disgusted that this even went to court," said reader Claire Green. "This man needs help and support. I saw him on the bridge that day, it was really upsetting to see.

"What was more upsetting was the lack of compassion in the comments that followed on social media. People have quickly forgotten the Be Kind message that flooded the country earlier this year."

Northamptonshire Police was asked what led to the the man being charged following the incident, after it was reported the force's own mental health partnership 'Operation Alloy' spoke to him at the scene.

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.”

Read Tessa Kidd wrote: "This is really beyond belief. For all the people that show compassion and kindness this judge [Magistrate] has just undone all that work. If I were to say this to anyone, as a nurse I would be struck off."

Several members of the public contacted the Chron to say they would be writing complaints to the Ministry of Justice.

The NHS website lists several mental health services that are free for members of the public to call.Services in Northamptonshire include:

Northampton MIND, 01604 634310 - https://www.northamptonmind.org.uk/, or at their national service through: mind.org.uk/seekinghelpFor mental wellbeing support for children or young people please visit www.nhft.nhs.uk/camhslive.

To find out more about mental health services across Northamptonshire, visit: www.nhft.nhs.uk/mentalhealth