Drunk man wanted to 'go to sleep' on ledge of Sunderland's Wearmouth Bridge - and threatened to jump off, while swigging lager

A drunk man diced with death by threatening to jump from a Sunderland river bridge while swigging lager.
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Ryan Carney, 34, of East Moor Road, Pallion, Sunderland, then told police he simply planned to go to sleep on the wrong side of Wearmouth Bridge’s protective railings.

But Carney’s suicide bid, at 4.30pm on Friday, November 6, ended when he climbed back to safety – and he was detained, a court heard.

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Three months earlier, on Saturday, August 15, he created lunchtime chaos when he writhed on the floor of Pallion service station, also Sunderland

Wearmouth Bridge, SunderlandWearmouth Bridge, Sunderland
Wearmouth Bridge, Sunderland

During his drunken escapade, he swore at police in front of customers, and was also arrested.

The episode came two months after Carney, who has 26 previous convictions from 60 offences, was released from a two-year jail term.

He had been imprisoned for assaulting an emergency worker and carrying a blade in public.

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Prosecutor Rebecca Slade told South Tyneside Magistrates’ Court: “Officers went to the service station after a report of a drunk male refusing to leave.

“Ryan Carney was lying on the floor of the store. He was with a staff member who was trying to help him.

“He was swearing. He continues with the abuse and there are members of the public there.

“They were alarmed by his behaviour. He was intoxicated. The police ask him to leave but he continues to be abusive.”

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Of the bridge incident, Ms Slade added: “Police were on duty. They attended a report of a male on the bridge, going to jump off.

“An officer approached the male who he knew to be Ryan Carney, who was standing on the wrong side of the railings.

“He was threatening to throw himself off. He was drinking from a can of lager. He was abusive and said he was just going to go to sleep on the ledge.”

Annalisa Moscardini, defending Carney, who was not present in court, said: “He has a difficult life. He has mental health issues and learning issues.

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“The problem with Mr Carney is accommodation, he tries to get himself sorted between periods in custody.”Magistrates gave Carney, who pleaded guilty to two charges of being drunk and disorderly, a 12-month conditional discharge, with £85 court costs and a £22 victim surcharge.

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