A major motorway was shut for about four hours while a man threatened to jump from a bridge above because he claimed his ex-partner had taken his Xbox and internet router.
Remi Alston, 26, was hauled before a judge after admitting an offence of causing a public nuisance.
GMP said the incident 'had a severe effect on already drained police resources on a busy Saturday night'. Alston eventually came down voluntarily.
Manchester Crown Court heard that 12 police officers, two negotiators and and other emergency service professionals were called out to the bridge over the M56 on Simonsway in Wythenshawe, in the early hours of April 7.
Alston was spared jail after a judge said his culpability for the incident was reduced because of his mental health problems.
The court heard he previously received a suspended sentence for a similar incident on Barton Swing Bridge last year.
Prosecutor Gavin Howie said that Alston, from Eccles, had returned to his home to find his Xbox and other electrical items were missing, and he blamed his ex-partner.
He later told police that he had called them about the incident, but after receiving no response, 30 minutes later he went to the bridge.
Alston said he didn't intend to commit suicide, but felt like he 'wanted to hurt himself'.
Police were called at about 1.30am, and Alston came down from the bridge before 5am.
During the stand off, officers offered to take him to try and resolve the issue, but at one point Alston said he would 'stay there even if it took three days'.
At about 4.50am, his ex arrived at the scene with a wireless router, and Alston came down shortly after.
When he was arrested, Alston said he was 'sick of the mickey being taken out of him'.
In interview when officers told Alston of the inconvenience his actions had caused, he said he 'wasn't thinking about other people' at the time.
The court heard Alston has a 'poor' criminal record going back to when he was aged 12, having 25 convictions recorded against him for 47 offences.
Defending, Robert Lancaster said that Alston has suffered from long standing mental health problems, and said he has a 'borderline personality disorder' which can cause him to have 'extreme reactions'.
He said Alston has 'little light in his life' and 'finds himself very often in a dark place'.
The court heard Alston has turned to drink as a coping mechanism and to self medicate.
At the time of the incident, Mr Lancaster said that Alston felt he 'didn't have support' within the community, and that he had been taken off his medication.
Appealing for Alston to be spared jail, Mr Lancaster said that Alston needs treatment.
"He knows what he was doing was wrong. He needs to learn to cope with his problems and his demons in a community environment," the lawyer said.
Judge Suzanne Goddard QC said that Alston's culpability was 'significantly affected' by his mental health issues, and passed a 15 month prison sentence, suspended for two years.
The judge told Alston: "You knew what you were doing, and you have accepted responsibility for that.
"It is self evident that it must have caused disruption to a large number of people, who were prevented from going about their lawful and usual business."
Alston, of Barton Lane, Eccles, was also ordered to complete 15 rehabilitation activity requirement days, and a 12 month alcohol treatment program.
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