Evening Telegraph (First Edition)
Jump threat man ‘wasted time’ of 999 crews in city
A MAN “wasted” the time of emergency services by threatening to jump over a barrier.
Police Scotland, the Scottish Fire Service, Scottish Ambulance Service, coastguard and lifeboat crews all raced to the scene after Darren Petrie, of Burnside Mill, Mylne’s East Wynd, Dundee, climbed on to a viewing platform at Marine Parade Walk on July 16.
The 29-year-old admitted at Dundee Sheriff Court to committing a breach of the peace by climbing on to the tower and repeatedly stating he would jump before climbing over a barrier on the tower, while on bail.
His behaviour came 18 months after bringing the Forth Road Bridge to a halt with a similar incident as well as causing the shipping channel to be shut down in the Firth below.
Dunfermline Sheriff Court previously heard that Petrie was upset over lack of child contact issues and was up on the bridge for more than an hour on January 22 2016.
In relation to his most recent antics, solicitor David Duncan told Dundee Sheriff Court that Petrie had sought help through an alcohol detox programme at Murray Royal Hospital.
Sheriff Alastair Carmichael told Petrie: “I don’t know if this was a cry for help but you cost the public taxpayer money and the emergency services all to be called out. You wasted their time.”
He ordered Petrie to engage with alcohol counselling services and psychiatric services if directed to by his supervising officer.
Petrie previously climbed up on to a suspension cable on the Forth Road Bridge.
He crossed over the central support beam, causing all northbound traffic to be halted and the shipping channel underneath to be closed.
Thereafter Petrie took hold of a safety cable and started swinging from it.
Police were called to the scene at 12.15am before the coastguard service was then alerted.
It was 1.30am before Petrie came down from the bridge.
Sheriff Craig McSherry said after handing him a six-month sentence: “This incident caused huge disruption and massive inconvenience to others as a result of your selfish actions.”