Video: Motorway closed as man pulled ‘gun’ on police officers

By Stephanie Bateman
Published 24th Oct 2023, 10:48 BST
Updated 24th Oct 2023, 10:49 BST
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A man who imitated he was going to shoot a roads policing officer on the motorway earlier this year has been jailed.

Steven Trevor Nelson, aged 35, was wandering along the M1 motorway around 9am on 23 March.

After receiving calls into our control room, a roads policing officer responded to what he believed was a man in distress. Worried for Nelson’s safety, the officer closed the road and approached him to offer help.

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Within seconds, Nelson pulled out what was believed at the time to be a viable firearm, pointing it at the officer with a firearms stance. The officer withdrew to his car and called for armed colleagues to assist.

The scene police faced when they arrived, and (inset) Steven Trevor Nelson who has now been jailed.The scene police faced when they arrived, and (inset) Steven Trevor Nelson who has now been jailed.
The scene police faced when they arrived, and (inset) Steven Trevor Nelson who has now been jailed.

Armed colleagues were again met with a hostile and threatening Nelson, who pointed what is now known to be a piece of aluminium towards officers.

Unsure what Nelson’s intentions were, officers acted quickly and without hesitation to immediately arrest him. He was taken to custody, during which he continued with his desire to cause harm to officers by spitting and trying to bite another roads policing officer while in the back of a police car.

On 19 October, Nelson, of no fixed abode, appeared before Sheffield Crown Court for sentencing after pleading guilty to charges of possession of an imitation firearm to cause fear of violence and assault on an emergency worker.

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He was sentenced to 14 months in total - 12 months for firearm offences, and two months, to be served consecutively for assault on an emergency worker. He was also ordered to pay a £187 victim surcharge.

Nelson pulled out what was believed at the time to be a viable firearm, pointing it at the officer with a firearms stance.Nelson pulled out what was believed at the time to be a viable firearm, pointing it at the officer with a firearms stance.
Nelson pulled out what was believed at the time to be a viable firearm, pointing it at the officer with a firearms stance.

Chief Superintendent of the Operational Support Unit 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.”

They added: “Our officers work as a team, supporting each other on the frontline as well as emotionally, with colleagues immediately responding to the officer’s request for help, during which two more officers were assaulted.

“We are thankful that the majority of the public are supportive of our officers and their actions, and I hope that the sentencing of Nelson sends a strong message to those who have a lack of respect that it will not be tolerated. We’re human too.”