Man admits child bridge offences (From Warrington Guardian)

Man admits child bridge offences

8:00am Thursday 1st November 2012 in News

Man admits child bridge offences

A FATHER-OF-ONE has admitted putting a child’s life at risk when dangling him over a railway bridge during a police siege.

Shane Rhodes, aged 24, of Haryngton Avenue, Bewsey, appeared at Warrington Crown Court on Tuesday.

He pleaded guilty to making threats to kill in relation to the two-year-old.

Rhodes also pleaded guilty to cruelty to a person under the age of 16.

The hearing was adjourned until January 13 for sentence.

The charges relate to an incident on August 12 this year when the defendant took the child.

Police were then called to a bridge on Bewsey Road at 6pm after getting reports that Rhodes was threatening to harm himself and the toddler.

A five hour stand-off ensued with specialist negotiators from Cheshire Police attempting to talk him down.

The court heard how DS Michael Evans was negotiating with Rhodes when he said the child ‘would be better off dead’.

DS Evans described what happened when firearms officers arrived at the scene.

He said: “I stood behind Rhodes trying to catch him.

“I stopped when I realised he was holding the boy over a metal bridge.

“It was my belief due to the height he would be killed (if dropped).”

Rhodes, who is reported to have mental health problems stemming from a brain injury, was eventually arrested at 11pm.

The incident caused major disruption to the railway network, according to Network Rail, with eight trains cancelled, 11 forced to cut journeys short while 79 were delayed for a total of more than 33 hours.

It is believed the cost of closing the railway line for five hours was around £70,000.

Following Rhodes’ guilty plea DC Vanessa Byrne, of Cheshire Police, said: “This was an extremely distressing incident which placed the life of a young boy at risk.

“It is only through the persistence of specialist police negotiators and the decisive actions of officers at the scene that a more serious incident was averted.

“Thankfully Rhodes was taken into custody before he was able to seriously harm himself or anyone else.”