A man who threatened to jump from a a motorway bridge will appear in court after being charged with causing public nuisance.
Dean Adams, 50, of Keldregate, Deighton, Huddersfield, caused disruption to traffic in the early hours of Tuesday morning. Police closed the motorway, with queues stretching for 9 miles at its peak.
Negotiators from West Yorkshire Police rushed to the scene and spent hours coaxing him away from the edge of the bridge between Junction 25 (Brighouse) and Junction 26 (Bradford). Mr Adams, who says he has only five months to live, has now spoken out about his experience for the first time.
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He said: 'It all got too much for me and I walked several miles to the bridge and arrived at around 10.40pm. I put a note through my neighbour's door saying: "If the police ask you for help, this time, please don't intervene'.
"On the night, I'd drunk beer and taken medication. A friend of mine, his girlfriend and another guy drove up to the scene and tried to talk me down. Then, within seconds the police arrived and told them to come back onto the other side of the barrier."
Neighbour Cheryl Rudd, who found the note from Dean on her doormat, had also raced to the scene. She arrived at 4am and helped the police talk him down. "He got a bit agitated and to be honest, I thought he would do it. He kept getting closer and closer to the edge," she said.
Dean says he was told by a police officer that they would look into allegations he has made over being abused as a child - which he says ultimately stopped him from jumping. However, after coming to a place of safety and being checked over by medics at Calderdale Royal Hospital, he was then informed he would be facing criminal charges for intentionally or recklessly causing a public nuisance, reports YorkshireLive.
Dean said: "I was up there for several hours but eventually, I agreed to come down and I was taken to Calderdale Royal Hospital. And then the police said they were arresting me for causing a public nuisance.
"I suffer from PTSD and have flashbacks. But I want everything to come out about what happened to me and then it can all be put to bed. I've contacted Huddersfield MP Barry Sheerman about it in the past. On Tuesday, I will be meeting police officers about my allegations."
Dean says he has been told he has only a few months to live as he has had five heart attacks and has severe chronic artery disease. Ms Rudd does not believe her neighbour should now also be in trouble with the police.
She added: "He is a good guy and will do anything for anyone. He has helped me quite a lot over the years. As for the police arresting him and taking him to court, I think that's pathetic."
The force have confirmed the charges made against Dean. In a statement, a spokesman said: "The charges were brought following an investigation into the incident, which caused the M62 motorway to be closed in the Calderdale area and required a large response from the emergency services. He has been released on bail to appear at Bradford Magistrates next month."
The cost to the economy of motorway closures is eyewateringly high. Highways England’s Casualty Report 2016 estimated it cost a massive £1,488,960 for a three-lane closure lasting up to four hours. Dean will appear at Bradford Magistrates' Court on Tuesday November 8.
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