Motorway man jailed for aiming 'weapon' at police

A man who pointed what officers initially believed was a gun when they went to help him by the side of a motorway has been jailed.

Steven Trevor Nelson, 35, was seen wandering along the M1 in South Yorkshire on 23 March.

Believing he was in distress, traffic officers shut the road and approached him to offer help, police said.

Nelson produced something from behind his back and 'aimed' it at officers, who withdrew and called for armed back-up.

The weapon was later found to be a piece of aluminium.

After being arrested he tried to spit at and bite an officer while in the back of a police car.

Nelson, of Strand Close, Mablethorpe in Lincolnshire, pleaded guilty at Sheffield Crown Court to possession of an imitation firearm to cause fear of violence and assault on an emergency worker.

He was jailed for 14 months.

Ch Supt Cherie Buttle said: "This is a poignant reflection of how selfless our officers are. The officer subjected to fear was trying to provide help to a man he believed to be in crisis.

"During his interviews Nelson showed no remorse for his actions, or what his true intentions were."

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