Motorway closed down in 2002 due to nutter

[Dom Tuk]

Around 2002 the M4 was closed both ways near Bath/Chippenham for about 10 hrs. A man who was pursued by the police following a domestic incident all the way from Devon (M5-M4) finally stopped on the M4 and pulled a gun and held a member of his family hostage (i think it was a child). Thousands of people had to experience delays and many more missed their heathrow flights and it was total chaos. What kind of punishment did he get for causing so much hardship to so many people.

[FP]

Blow the delays.  Just think of the terror of the poor person held hostage, even worse if it were a child.  Think of the danger to the police and to the public from a gun.  The police were there to save the public and the hostage - delays and missing flights seems nothing in comparison to what could have happened. 

Total chaos on motorways in commonplace nowadays.  It's something we have to expect. 

[Dom Tuk]

Hold your horses FP. I did not say that the motorway should not have been closed. The police did the right thing. But what did happen to the perpretator. Did it come to court even. Knowing the law today he got away scotfree or worse still sued the police !!!

[FP]

What I was trying to say, Dom Tuk, but probably didn't make myself clear, was that I think the chaos his caused to thousands was insignificant compared to the crime of abduction and holding someone hostage and being armed with a gun.  If he was charged and punished correctly for the latter, then that would be enough to cover the former.  FP

[spainlads]

The last the was reported on the BBC was:

A man at the centre of an armed siege on the M4 last year is on the run, say police.
The 45-year-old man, from Lincolnshire, faces charges of making a threat to kill and the possession of a handgun with the intent to cause fear of violence.

The charges relate to a series of incidents that began on 19 October at Seaview Caravan park in Sennen, west Cornwall.

The man, who cannot be named for legal reasons, fled the park with his toddler son.

He was followed by police until his camper van ran out of petrol on the M4 in Wiltshire.

A stand-off developed and police closed a 17-mile stretch of the motorway for 30 hours.

The man eventually emerged from the van, carrying his son.

This week Judge William Taylor issued a warrant for his arrest after the man failed to attend a procedural hearing at Truro Crown Court in Cornwall.

A spokeswoman for Devon and Cornwall Police said on Friday morning that officers were trying to track him down.

[Dom Tuk]

thanks spainlads......this is what really gets my goat. This lowlife caused all that and was released on bail to report for his hearing. I know of one person who lived in the Uk and was dashing to Bombay for his mothers funeral. He had not seen her for 3 years. He missed his flight and the funeral went ahead. He is still distraught that he did not get the chance to see his mother for 1 last time (this is why i remember the incident...most people would have forgotten). And it was not 10 hrs but 30 hrs that the M4 was closed. And this b****** is still free and not punished for his crimes.