Police closed Tower Bridge and surrounding roads

David Chick, 37, was on the 150ft crane at Tower Bridge, central London, for six days last November.

He told Southwark Crown Court the authorities were playing a "psychological game" in a bid to paint him as a "reckless idiot".

Mr Chick, of Burgess Hill, West Sussex, denies causing a public nuisance.

He claims he repeatedly told specialist negotiating teams scaling the crane that "he was not a danger" and that Tower Bridge could be safely reopened.

"The police were trying to inconvenience the public and have them stuck in traffic jams for one to two hours," he said.

The prosecution has described Mr Chick as a maverick, saying he was solely responsible for the serious knock-on effects to local businesses.

They said police had no option but to close the roads because of the "potential risk" to passing traffic and pedestrians.

The case has been adjourned.