Hospital order after standoff
A Five-hour standoff in a coffee shop which brought the city centre to a standstill has led to a man being given an indefinite hospital order.
Mohammed Othman, 36, of no fixed address, was charged with cruelty to a person under 16 years.
He was “found to have done the act” by a jury, and a hospital order was imposed without restriction.
He was given the indefinite hospital order at Nottingham Crown Court.
It followed officers from Nottinghamshire Police being called out to the Costa Coffee, in Friar Lane, after a report of concern for a child’s safety.
According to police, Othman refused to allow a young child - who cannot be identified - to leave the shop for more than five hours.
The incident led to a number of roads being closed in the city centre, causing major disruption while officers and negotiators worked to bring the incident to a safe conclusion.
The standoff at 12.20pm on Monday, February 3, ultimately ended with the arrest and charge of Othman.
Detective Sergeant Ruth Walker, of Nottinghamshire Police, said: “This incident demonstrates the complexities and difficulties front-line officers face.
“Negotiators worked for more than five hours to resolve the situation, while officers in neighbourhood policing and response teams kept police cordons in order to facilitate them.
“It was a coordinated response that saw incredible work from so many teams from within the force.
“The actions of everyone at that scene were ones of bravery and complete commitment to the safety of all concerned.
“The outside officers were faced with challenges and a large complex scene to manage.
“I’d like to thank everyone involved for their efforts that day.”