A man who brought much of Sydney to a standstill by illegally climbing the Harbour Bridge around the anniversary of his baby’s death later tried to grab a police officer’s gun, a court has heard.
Wayne John Cook got his hand on the officer’s gun and attempted to pull it from its holster during a scuffle at St Vincent’s Hospital following his bridge stand-off on April 4.
Cook was capsicum-sprayed and overpowered, but police prosecutor Patrick Schmidt on Thursday said that if he was successful there could have been 15 victims and a hostage situation.
Wayne John Cook (pictured) brought much of Sydney to a standstill by illegally climbing the Harbour Bridge around the anniversary of his baby’s death later tried to grab a police officer’s gun, a court has heard
Wayne John Cook got his hand on the officer’s gun and attempted to pull it from its holster during a scuffle at St Vincent’s Hospital following his bridge stand-off on April 4
Cook was capsicum-sprayed and overpowered, but police prosecutor Patrick Schmidt on Thursday said that if he was successful there could have been 15 victims and a hostage situation
‘This is an incident that happened at a hospital encompassing vulnerable, sick patients, who had to witness the events unfolding,’ Sergeant Schmidt told Central Local Court.
The 43-year-old disability pensioner was jailed by magistrate John Andrews for 12 months with a non-parole period of eight months over the incidents.
He had pleaded guilty to assaulting a police officer, obstructing the free passage of vehicles, unlawful entry and climbing the bridge.
Defence lawyer Allison Hawkins told the court her client’s bridge climb came days after the anniversary of his son’s 2002 death from sudden infant death syndrome.
She said the hospital assault occurred in a safe room – not in view of other patients.
Cook was self-medicated and struggling with his mental health, the court heard.
‘This is an incident that happened at a hospital encompassing vulnerable, sick patients, who had to witness the events unfolding,’ Sergeant Schmidt told Central Local Court
The 43-year-old disability pensioner was jailed by magistrate John Andrews for 12 months with a non-parole period of eight months over the incidents
The magistrate said Cook earlier appeared to be in an erratic state as he sat in the centre of the archway of the Sydney Harbour Bridge and made comments about voices in his head.
‘There is no doubt that the offence was committed by a person of a troubled mind,’ he said.
Cook caused major traffic delays and put police and rescue workers in potential danger, the magistrate said.
He also posed an ‘enormous risk’ at the hospital to police, staff and patients and a custodial sentence was appropriate to deter such behaviour, the magistrate said.
Cook will be eligible for parole in December 2018.