Man who threw bricks onto M8 could face jail

A man who threw a brick from a bridge onto a busy city centre motorway could face jail.

Jake Murphy, 32, went on to brandish scissors at police when they came to arrest him in Glasgow’s Charing Cross near the M8 last June.

Murphy also hurled bricks at other cars forcing drivers to dodge them.

He earlier threatened to stab Michael McMenamin, 40, during the crime spree.

First offender Murphy admitted at Glasgow Sheriff Court to culpable and reckless conduct as well as the unlawful possession of scissors in a public place.

He further pleaded to guilty to assaulting Mr McMenamin and threatening violence.

The court heard a “distressed and agitated” Murphy was spotted by Mr McMenamin screaming and banging into parked cars.

He tailed Murphy while on the phone to police.

Murphy was then spotted clutching something in his hand.

He yelled at the man: “Get away from me, I’m gonna stab you, I’ll stab you in the f***ing eye.”

Murphy then went across the bridge at Charing Cross and chucked up a brick which Mr McMenamin had to dodge.

Prosecutor Lauren Staunton said: “He picked up another brick and threw it onto the M8 motorway below.

“He picked up a further two bricks and threw them at two passing cars, again narrowly missing the cars.”

Officers arrived and approached Murphy who brandished a pair of scissors.

He was eventually arrested and replied to the scissors charge: “It was for self-defence, it was to protect myself.”

Craig Dewar, defending, told the court Murphy was a first offender and will make his plea in mitigation at the sentencing in July.

Sheriff Joan Kerr called for background reports and bailed Murphy, of the city’s Woodlands area, meantime.

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