A MAN who threw rocks and metal objects at passing cars on York Outer Ring Road has been sectioned indefinitely under the Mental Health Act.

Jack Lee Hirst, 21, could have killed people as he threw rocks and large pieces of metal at vehicles while suffering from paranoid schizophrenia, Judge Paul Worsley QC said.

A police officer who endured a “barrage of rocks” as he tried to restrain him has won a judge’s commendation.

Hirst’s family had been trying unsuccessfully to get him help for months before the incident just before 4pm on May 3, York Crown Court heard.

Michael Bosomworth, prosecuting, said Hirst hit at least 14 cars and narrowly missed two more as he roamed on the A64 near its junction with the A19.

“Most amazingly even though rocks and lumps of metal went through car windscreens, nobody was seriously injured,” said Mr Bosomworth, adding that the skill of the drivers involved managed to prevent any collisions.

Hirst also hit acting sergeant Ben Hutchinson, at the start of a lengthy police chase that ended with Hirst terrifying shoppers and shop staff in the nearby McArthur Glen Designer Outlet before he was restrained and arrested, said the prosecuting barrister.

Doctors agree that Hirst was suffering from paranoid schizophrenia at the time and requires psychiatric treatment in a secure hospital, York Crown Court heard.

The judge said: “His erratic and dangerous behaviour could well have led to serious injury or even death had a driver been struck in a manner which prevented them from controlling their vehicles.”

He made an order confining Hirst to a secure psychiatric unit indefinitely with a restriction that he only be released when he is no longer a danger to the public.

Commending acting sergeant Hutchinson, he said: “He was persistent in his chase of the young man who was eventually secured, even though the officer suffered a barrage of rocks being thrown at him.”

Hirst, of no fixed address, was not in court to hear the judge’s order. His barrister Andrew Semple said he had refused to come out of his cell at HMP Hull.

In September, a York jury found that he had committed the acts of criminal damage with intent to endanger lives and attempted grievous bodily harm to the police officer with intent to cause grievous bodily harm. He had earlier been declared unfit to plead.

Mr Semple said he had displayed symptoms of mental illness before the incident.

“In the months running up to it, his mother was becoming increasingly concerned and seeking assessments (of his state). The assessments did not take place,” said Mr Semple.

“His mother did all that she could when she saw the deterioration in his symptoms. Once sufficiently well enough to be released, that support will undoubtedly continue.

“She is aware this may well be a lifelong condition.”

Hirst will now be taken from HMP Hull, where he has been on remand since May and will be confined in Newton Lodge medium secure unit near Wakefield.