A PENSIONER who held a sign offering a £50,000 reward for information about ‘police corruption’ outside their HQ has been convicted of obstruction after drivers had to veer out of his way.

Richard Jackson, aged 66, of Friar Street, Worcester, denied wilful obstruction of the highway but was found guilty after a day-long trial at Worcester Magistrates Court.

The court heard Jackson stood at the entrance to West Mercia Police’s Hindlip HQ in Old Drive, Fernhill Heath on May 6, causing drivers to “veer” into the middle of the A38 to avoid him.

Jackson, defending himself, said he remained on a grass verge and that the vehicles were moving to the middle of the road to avoid a manhole cover.

The white sign, which measured 3ft by 2ft, read: “£50,000 offered for information exposing deceit, collusion, dishonesty and corruption in West Mercia Police.

"Please send the police operatives rank, name and collar numbers.”

Three prosecution witnesses were called – Tracey Lynskey, a civilian employed by West Mercia Police, who said Jackson “lurched” at her with the sign forcing her to take evasive action, Terence Law, also a civilian employed by police, who said Jackson “thrust his sign forward at arms length” causing him to stop the car and PC Richard Allen who had arrested him.

PC Allen said: “He was stood virtually on the kerb, holding the placard out into the road.

"The traffic I was following was veering towards the middle white lines of the road because their vehicles could have collided with that placard.”

At times, Jackson’s cross-examination of witnesses exasperated the district judge, Nigel Cadbury, who told him: “You would try the patience of a saint. I’m not a saint.”

Jackson called a single defence witness, cyclist Thomas Butler, who said the defendant was on the grass and did not cause him any obstruction.

Jackson said he had been denied access to PC Allen’s pocket notebook and other information on the police log, preventing him from preparing his defence.

He said: “I didn’t obstruct the highway. Not a single member of the public has come forward to say I obstructed the highway because I did not.”

He said: “If this is justice, I’m a banana.”

District judge Nigel Cadbury said Jackson had a “deeply held grievance” against the police.

“It’s clear and there is no dispute that the defendant does have a right to expression, which includes to protest,” he said.

But he said an obstruction did take place over a short time with witnesses concerned for the defendant’s safety and for themselves.

Jackson was fined £250, ordered to pay £600 costs and a £15 victim surcharge.