M42 closed for five hours as racist climbs onto bridge and performs Nazi salute
A racist who shouted 'make Britain great again' and demanded a full English breakfast brought part of the M42 to a standstill for over five hours.
Geoffrey Brewer clambered over the railings on a bridge near junction five, for Solihull[1], prompting fellow motorists to alert the emergency services.
When help arrived, however, he directed vile racist abuse at officers and demanded a fry-up.
Although he did not appear to have any intention of harming himself, paramedics and police grew concerned he might fall accidentally.
The 53 year old eventually gave himself up. Birmingham Crown Court heard he had undisclosed mental health issues and problems with drugs, reports Birmingham Live[4].
Brewer, of Lindsey Place, Brierley Hill, pleaded guilty to two counts of racially aggravated intentional harassment, as well as causing danger to road users by obstructing the road.
On Tuesday, 21 April, he was handed a nine-month sentence but was told he could expect to be released imminently, having already served that period in custody on remand.
Long tailbacks on the M42 on July 10(Image: Highways England)
Members of the public grew alarmed upon spotting Brewer on the wrong side of the railings on the motorway bridge at around 6am on 10 July last year.
Officers attended and attempted to persuade him to return to the correct side of the barrier, but he 'shouted racial abuse' at a female officer and performed a Nazi salute, prosecutor Harman Kooner told the court.
Brewer also made a number of crude sexual remarks and hurled a drinks bottle in her direction.
Mr Kooner said: "He wasn't making comments about being suicidal but threatened to jump off the bridge if he didn't get a full English breakfast and other food, drinks and cigarettes.
"They were concerned primarily that he would fall rather than jump."
The prosecutor stated that when an ambulance arrived, Brewer 'exploded and proceeded to go into a tirade of verbal abuse'.
His remarks directed at one of the paramedics were equally racist and offensive.
Brewer also repeatedly performed the Nazi salute and chanted 'make Britain great again', the prosecutor added, noting that he also stripped off some of his clothing due to the 'extremely hot' conditions.
He was taken into custody at 11.40am.
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Mr Kooner confirmed that the motorway had been shut for over five hours and 'thousands of members of the public were impacted'.
Brewer had previously committed 48 offences.
Lizzie Banagan, defending, said: "At the time the defendant was homeless.
"He was living a somewhat chaotic lifestyle. Part of the offending was committed, in his words, as a cry for help.
"He was struggling significantly with mental health issues."
The barrister informed the court that Brewer had already endured a difficult period in custody owing to 'dire' conditions, including the absence of a functioning toilet in his cell. He had received no visits from family members and had limited access to courses and facilities.
Ms Banahan confirmed Brewer had become a grandfather for the first time while in custody and said he was 'anxious to be released and reunited with his family'.
Recorder Louise MacLynn, passing sentence, told him: "In your pre-sentence report you claim to have no memory of the incident and you refer to possibly inadvertently taking drugs.
"You have no insight into your offending.
There is a history of concerns regarding domestic abuse, significant concerns about drug-taking and a lack of clear information in respect of your mental health."
The judge told Brewer it was 'likely you will be released immediately' due to the time he had already served.
She added that part of his post-sentence supervision would include being referred to dependence and recovery services.
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References
- ^ Solihull (www.coventrytelegraph.net)
- ^ Life in moated Warwickshire family home with its own resident ghost (www.coventrytelegraph.net)
- ^ Full list of films as Birmingham NEC Lakeside free outdoor cinema opens for summer (www.coventrytelegraph.net)
- ^ Birmingham Live (www.birminghammail.co.uk)
- ^ Get the latest crime and court news straight to your inbox - it's FREE (www.coventrytelegraph.net)
- ^ here (www.coventrytelegraph.net)