Suicidal man abused police after rescue

Burnley magistrates were told how drunken Ryan Tomlinson (28) ended up being arrested after he decided he was going to kill himself after officers were called to a row in a car just after midnight.

Tomlinson, who smelled of beer, banged his head against a police van cage, his eyes were glazed and his speech was slurred. He was immediately abusive to police after they cut him free and carried on after he was taken to custody.

Miss Parveen Akhtar (prosecuting) said police had received reports of a man in a car and there was some suggestion of a noose. They found he had a shoelace around his neck and it was cut off.

Mr John Rusius (defending) said Tomlinson had been in a relationship with a young woman for about 13 years and she was terminally ill.

The solicitor added: "On this particular evening, he decided he was going to commit suicide. He put something round his neck, that was getting tighter, he fell out of the car, he was trying to loosen it and he was losing consciousness.

"He came to with his body moving in several directions. He was in severe pain. He was taken to the police station, charged with being drunk and disorderly and was released."

The defendant, of Coultate Street, Burnley, admitted being drunk and disorderly on Phoenix Way, in the town, on July 1st. He was given a 12-month conditional discharge and was told to pay £85 costs and a £20 victim surcharge.

The Bench chairman told him it was not acceptable to be abusive to the police, whatever the circumstances. They had been trying to help him.

The chairman added: "I strongly recommend if you can't handle it, you stay away from alcohol."