M1: Watch shocking footage captured as man pulls ‘gun’ on South Yorkshire Police officers on motorway

Steven Trevor Nelson, aged 35, was wandering along the motorway around 9am on March 23 when an officer closed the motorway, believing him to be in distress.

After receiving calls into the force control room, a roads policing officer from South Yorkshire Police, attended the scene. Worried for Nelson’s safety, the officer closed the road and approached him to offer help.

Within seconds, Nelson pulled out what was believed at the time to have been a firearm, and pointed it at the officer .The officer withdrew to his car and called for armed colleagues to assist.

Firearms officers were then again met with a hostile and threatening Nelson, who pointed what is now known to have been a piece of aluminium towards them. Unsure what Nelson’s intentions were, officers acted quickly and without hesitation to immediately arrest him.

He continued with his bid to cause harm to officers by spitting and trying to bite another officer while in the back of a police car, South Yorkshire Police said.

On October 19, Nelson, of no fixed abode, appeared at Sheffield Crown Court for sentencing after pleading guilty to charges of possession of an imitation firearm to cause fear of violence and assault on an emergency worker.

He was sentenced to 14 months in total - 12 months for firearm offences, and two months, to be served consecutively, for assault on an emergency worker. He was also ordered to pay a £187 victim surcharge.

Chief Superintendent of the Operational Support Unit, Cherie Buttle, said: “This is a poignant reflection of how selfless our officers are. The officer subjected to fear was trying to provide help to a man he believed to be in crisis. During his interviews Nelson showed no remorse for his actions, or what his true intentions were.

“Our officers work as a team, supporting each other on the frontline as well as emotionally, with colleagues immediately responding to the officer’s request for help, during which two more officers were assaulted.

“We are thankful that the majority of the public are supportive of our officers and their actions, and I hope that the sentencing of Nelson sends a strong message to those who have a lack of respect that it will not be tolerated. We’re human too.”