Man climbed onto Harwich Asda supermarket roof in 16 hour stand-off

John Menzies, 51, said he wanted to “finish the job” when he ventured onto the roof of the Asda store in Main Road, Dovercourt.

Entering the dock at Colchester Magistrates’ Court on crutches, Menzies told magistrates he had sustained severe injuries in a previous fall.

The court heard police were called to the store at around 8.50pm on August 4 last year.

Menzies was identified by staff members and police officers, firefighters and ambulance crews arrived at the scene.

Together with negotiators, attempts were made to coax Menzies down from the roof.

The court heard he could be seen shouting, swearing and swigging from a bottle.

Eventually, Menzies moved to a central location on the roof and fell asleep.

The store and the adjoining petrol station were closed throughout the day.

Stand off: The man could be heard and seen swearing and shouting at the teams below

The following morning, Asda staff found they were unable to get to work as the stand-off continued, while delivery vehicles were unable to access the site.

Menzies was retrieved from the roof by force shortly before 2pm.

The court heard the cost to Asda as a result of the incident totalled £20,000.

Menzies, who has 28 convictions for 65 offences, admitted a causing a public nuisance and failing to comply with requirements of post-custodial supervision.

Representing himself, he said an outreach worker had found him a new home in St Andrew’s Avenue, Colchester, after he had struggled with homelessness in Harwich.

“I regret everything that happened, I really do,” he said.

“At the time I was homeless, I was living in a tent and I was in a bad way – I wasn’t thinking straight.

“I was living on my own, it was during lockdown and I was being attacked in the street by people who thought I was spreading disease because I was homeless.

“The day I got onto the roof I wasn’t thinking straight at all, if I could take it all back I would.

“I wanted to end it all and I just couldn’t see a future.”

Read more: 

• Teacher admits taking upskirt pictures of woman at school
• Fire at former Homebase site was started 'deliberately'

He told the court he had quit drinking amid fears his habit was worsening his injuries, which he said he sustained after climbing onto the same roof on a previous occasion.

“I’ve got titanium from my feet all the way up my legs, and a hip replacement,” he said.

“I’m not suicidal anymore, I’ve got something to live for.

“When I was homeless I didn’t have any custody with my children, I was living in an area where I was being attacked verbally and physically.”

Martin Stuchfield, chairman of the bench, said Menzies had caused “mayhem” with his actions, and voiced a concern he would venture onto the roof of Colchester’s Asda supermarket.

Menzies replied: “It will never happen again.

“I know a lot of people who work in the Harwich Asda store, I get on with them well and they have forgiven me.”

Menzies was sentenced to 12 weeks imprisonment, suspended for 18 months.

He must complete a rehabilitation programme, a 35-day rehabilitation activity requirement and pay £1,000 to Asda in compensation.