Sheffield woman labelled “attention seeker” and jailed after climbing onto bridge in cry for help
“It is suggested you have an attitude of entitlement about the level of support you deserve”
A young woman who climbed onto a bridge in a cry for help was labelled an “attention seeker” by a Sheffield judge and jailed.
Ellie Green, aged 21, was sent to prison after climbing onto the railway bridge above Penistone Road North, causing the closure of the major road for nearly an hour, on May 19.
She was spotted with her legs “dangling” over the side of the bridge in that incident.
Ellie, who has over a dozen convictions for similar incidents since 2024, was branded “entitled” and an “attention seeker” after the most recent and was jailed at Sheffield Crown Court.
It led to the closure of the road in both directions for 45 minutes along with the junctions of Leppings Lane and Fox Hill Road.
Paramedics, police and the fire service attended until Green - diagnosed with an unstable personality disorder - could be talked down.
Sheffield Crown Court heard the incident was the latest of 18 similar offences during the the last two years - including “nuisance communications” and “trespassing on railways”.
Green’s barrister Rebecca Tanner said her client had been “crying out” for more help from mental health services.
She said: “Your honour knows how stretched the resources are.
When life is difficult, Samaritans are here – day or night, 365 days a year. You can call them for free on 116 123 or visit www.samaritans.org to find your nearest branch.
“She has felt the only way to get the help she needs is to be sectioned under the Mental Health Act.”
The barrister said since being in custody waiting to be sentenced, Green had benefited from direct access to a psychologist and adjustments to her medication.
She added probation had recommended a curfew with support workers during the “danger zone” hours between 7pm and 7am - with monitoring.
After her arrest on May 19 police spoke to Green about the disruption caused.
Andrew Bailey, prosecuting, said Green replied saying that members of the public “could have opted for an alternative route” and emergency workers “were probably standing around having a mothers’ meeting”.
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Recorder Sean Sullivan told Green he found her mindset “astonishing” after “so many interventions”.
He said: “While you have mental health issues it’s attention seeking and entitlement on your part for provision that you do not warrant that had led to your persistent offending.”
Mr Bailey described how a police sergeant was asked to attend the Penistone Road incident at 9.15pm on May 19 and “assumed” the person on the bridge was Green - as she was “well-known” to officers for “previous and like” incidents.
Green eventually climbed down from the bridge after speaking on the phone with the officer and climbed into an ambulance - she was arrested at 9.46pm, the road closure being in place for 45 minutes.
However jailing Green for 14 months, Recorder Sullivan told her: “There is a multitude of other routes to seek than having emergency services called out.
“There’s a lack of insight and you take no responsibility, focusing the blame on services or your mental health. Your motivations are attention seeking and you do not utilise alternative services available to you effectively.
“It is suggested you have an attitude of entitlement about the level of support you deserve.
“It’s my view that while you have mental health issues it’s attention seeking and entitlement on your part for provision that you do not warrant that has led to your persistent offending.”
Green, of Southey Green Road, admitted causing a public nuisance.
When life is difficult, Samaritans are here – day or night, 365 days a year. You can call them for free on 116 123 or visitwww.samaritans.org to find your nearest branch.