Blackburn woman admits nuisance after causing M65 closure
Blackburn Magistrates' Court heard the M65 had to be closed in both directions for over two hours, and there was a massive deployment of emergency services before Maddison Grieve was talked down. Grieve, 20, of Stonyhurst Close, Blackburn, pleaded guilty to causing a public nuisance. She was made subject to a conditional discharge for 12 months.
District Judge Alexandra Preston[1] said Grieve had caused enormous inconvenience to a lot of people. "I have to think about the members of the public, and I have to think about you," said District Judge Preston. "This is the first time you have been convicted of an offence in court, and I also bear in mind that you are only 20 and have mental health issues which affect the way you make decisions."
She said sometimes the defendant made bad decisions which affect other people. "I am not punishing you today, but if you commit any other offences in the next 12 months, this will be dealt with along with the new matter," said District Judge Preston. "I'm giving you a chance to start making the right decisions."
Nicola Mills, prosecuting, said the initial response included two double crewed police vehicles, a police sergeant and a police negotiator. Other officers were required to close the M65 in both directions. She said multiple ambulance resources were deployed, and the fire brigade deployed a pump and an aerial ladder manned by a senior officer and eight firefighters.
"It seems she was in a bad place," said Miss Mills. "She nodded her head but wouldn't speak to the officers. "She had been in hospital pleading for some help with her mental health.
"She had been assessed and it was decided she wasn't sufficiently unwell to be sectioned." Miss Mills said the motorway was closed for over two hours. She said it wasn't the first time Grieve had committed the offences.
On a previous occasion, she had been charged and remanded in custody mainly for her own protection.
The Crown Prosecution Service ultimately discontinued that prosecution on the grounds it was not in the public interest to continue.
Gareth Price, offering mitigation, said it was conceded his client was on bail to British Transport Police and the conditions of bail ban his client from entering stations or railway property.