A man who shouted racist abuse and demanded a full English breakfast while standing on the wrong side of a motorway bridge caused a five-hour closure of the M42 near Solihull.
Incident Details
Geoffrey Brewer, 53, from Brierley Hill, climbed over the railings on a bridge near junction five on July 10 last year, prompting concerned motorists to alert emergency services. When police and paramedics arrived, he subjected them to vile racist abuse, performed Nazi salutes, and repeatedly shouted 'make Britain great again.'
Brewer also demanded a full English breakfast, along with other food, drinks, and cigarettes, threatening to jump if his demands were not met. However, authorities believed he was not suicidal but at risk of accidentally falling.
Court Proceedings
At Birmingham Crown Court, Brewer admitted two counts of racially aggravated intentional harassment and causing danger to road users by obstructing the road. Prosecutor Harman Kooner detailed how Brewer targeted a female police officer with racial slurs, crude sexual remarks, and threw a drinks bottle at her. He also repeated the abuse towards a paramedic.
The motorway was closed for over five hours, affecting thousands of motorists. Brewer was arrested at 11:40 am after eventually surrendering.
Defense and Sentencing
Defending, Lizzie Banagan said Brewer was homeless and living a chaotic lifestyle at the time, with significant mental health issues. She described his actions as a 'cry for help.' The court heard Brewer had already served nine months on remand, during which he faced difficult custody conditions, including a lack of working toilet facilities and limited family visits.
Recorder Louise MacLynn sentenced Brewer to nine months but noted he would likely be released immediately due to time served. She highlighted his lack of insight into his offending, history of domestic abuse, drug use, and unclear mental health status. As part of his supervision, he will be referred to dependence and recovery services.
Brewer had previously committed 48 offences. He became a grandfather for the first time while in custody and was eager to be reunited with his family.
