Yahoo News Man scaled Blackpool pier after town centre stabbing and threw bricks at police
A man scaled Blackpool's North Pier and refused to come down after another man was stabbed in the town centre. Stefan Taylor ran away from police officers then threw bricks at them during a lengthy stand-off.
Police were called to a report of a stabbing at about 10.30am on Tuesday, July 4, where a man in his 20s received a stab wound to the leg. The suspect was identified as Stefan Taylor.
Taylor was spotted by police officers shortly afterwards in Blackpool town centre, but he ran off when told to stop. He ran to North Pier and scaled the poles of the pier to put himself on the wrong side of the railings.
He then refused to get down and became verbally abusive to police. Taylor caused damage to the pier by ripping bricks from the brick work and throwing them towards officers.
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He also snapped the cables that connect the CCTV on the pier, causing further damage. He refused to engage with officers and stayed in his place on the pier for more than two hours.
The concern for his safety prompted a huge emergency services response. He was eventually arrested after a police negotiator talked him down. Taylor was found with cannabis on him and was arrested for that as well as the stabbing and damage.
The 36-year-old, of no fixed address, pleaded guilty to section 20 wounding, Criminal Damage, Intentionally/Recklessly causing a public nuisance and Possession of Class B drugs. He appeared at Preston Crown Court on Thursday (November 7) and was jailed for five years.
