18 HOURS TO TALK MAN OFF BRIDGE
Court told of crime spree in days leading up to stand-off
AMAJOR road bridge was closed for 18 hours while police tried to talk a man down from the edge, a court has heard. The stand-off on the Briton Ferry saw a major response by the emergency services including paramedics, firefighters and police negotiators, while diversions had to be put in place for traffic on the main A48 road.
The bridge incident was the culmination of a spree of offending by Dean Kinsella which had also seen him riding his motorbike the wrong way along the M4 motorway, and climbing onto the roof of a hospital.
Swansea Crown Court heard the offending began at lunchtime on July 25 this year when a man was seen riding his motorbike the wrong way along the off-slip of the M4 at junction 45, the Ynysforgan roundabout north of Swansea.
Ashanti-Jade Walton, prosecuting, said witnesses saw the biker – later identified as Kinsella – waving to other motorists as he rode up the exit-slip and joined the motorway heading east in the westbound carriageway.
Police were alerted, and officers rushed to the scene – they found Kinsella walking in the direction of oncoming traffic and pushing his motorbike.
When the defendant saw police approaching he jumped on his bike and rode off.
The court heard Kinsella went the wrong way along the M4 motorway then onto the A48 and over the Briton Ferry bridge heading for Port Talbot.
An attempt by police to deploy a “stinger” device to puncture the tyres of the Lexmioto bike failed, and Kinsella continued into Baglan and then to Neath Port Talbot Hospital, going straight over a number of roundabouts and going through red lights without slowing or stopping as he did so.
In the car park of the hospital he rode along several pavements and walkways – forcing pedestrians to take evasive action – before exiting the site.
Police found the bike abandoned on a grass verge shortly afterwards, and Kinsella was later tracked down to the petrol station at the beach end of Western Avenue in Aberavon.
The court heard the defendant apologised to police and said he knew he should have waited for them, adding: “I was bang out of order.”
The second piece of offending happened on August 8 when 35-year-old Kinsella was in Morriston Hospital.
After he climbed on the roof of one of the buildings at the hospital site he was taken to Neath Port Talbot Hospital’s mental health ward. Once in the unit he managed to force open one of the windows – which are only designed to open around six inches – climb out, and run off.
The bridge stand-off happened the following week, on August 13.
Miss Walton said at around 3.15pm police were alerted to a man sitting on the A48 Briton Ferry bridge dangling his legs over the edge.
A major emergency response followed, with the bridge being closed and diversions put in place, and paramedics and fire crews deployed to the scene along with police negotiators and other officers.
The stand-off lasted all that day and through the night, with Kinsella being aggressive – including throwing rocks at officers below the bridge – and refusing to talk or engage. At one stage the defendant’s sister was brought in to talk to him, but he refused to engage with her.
The prosecutor said negotiators continued to try to talk to the defendant and eventually, at around 10am the next morning, Kinsella agreed to leave the bridge and get into a police car. Once safe he told officers: “I’m in trouble.”
In total the stand-off lasted for some 18 hours.
Dean Kinsella, of Oystermouth Road, Swansea, had previously pleaded guilty to dangerous driving, driving otherwise than in accordance with a licence, criminal damage, and causing a nuisance to the public – an offence contrary to common law – when he appeared in the dock via videolink from prison for sentencing.
Judge Paul Thomas QC told Kinsella he had committed serious offences which ordinarily would attract an “immediate and lengthy” prison sentence.
However, he said it was clear from medical reports on the defendant that he was suffering from an acute psychiatric disorder that warranted treatment in a secure setting. The judge said he was satisfied on the evidence given to him by psychiatrists that a hospital order under section 37 of the Mental Health Act was the appropriate dis
posal.