Former nuclear physicist Martin Cresdee jailed for petty thefts but neighbours in Abingdon call for mental health treatment

One-time atomic scientist and former Mastermind contestant Martin Cresdee has been starting fires in his garden, stealing bikes, smashing his own belongings and wandering around the neighbourhood with a 12in kitchen knife.

One nearby resident has taken out a restraining order and police are frequently called to his house in Abingdon. But mental health experts have apparently been unable to diagnose Mr Cresdee with any illness.

On Tuesday, the 62-year-old, who has a degree in physics, was sentenced to 56 days in prison for his latest spree of petty offences – stealing nuts from Waitrose, attempting to pinch a bike and taking a chair from a cafe in Abingdon Market Place.

Appearing in the dock at Oxford Magistrates’ Court, Mr Cresdee described himself as an attention seeker.

The judge said: “I can see quite easily you will be in front of me again in the future.”

But Mr Cresdee’s lawyer, Simon Graham-Harrison, said a psychiatric assessment would probably achieve “zero”.

The solicitor added: “We would end up with a diagnosis of some form of personality disorder that would be of little assistance dealing with this case.

“Mr Cresdee worked in nuclear physics, and it is apparent from speaking to him for only a few minutes he is an intelligent and erudite man.

“But trying to elicit sensible instructions from Mr Cresdee is problematic... these offences seem a determined attempt to get himself into trouble.”

Mr Cresdee shouted out from the dock: “Absolutely.”

Mr Graham-Harrison continued: “This may be a cry for help from a man struggling to cope with life, but Mr Cresdee himself says there is a more pragmatic reason – he is struggling financially and being in prison solves that problem.

“Mr Cresdee may have some form of mental health disorder... some underlying problem seems to have promoted this extraordinary idiosyncratic spree, but he eludes a rational diagnosis.”

At the end of his solicitor’s speech Mr Cresdee cried: “Bravo, well said, sir.”

On being told by District Judge Booker he did not need to shout, Mr Cresdee fired back: “I feel better shouting because it attracts attention and I’m an attention seeker.”

One of Mr Cresdee’s neighbours, Nick Walker, told the Oxford Mail how one day last summer he watched as the scientist methodically took all his possessions out into his garden and smashed them up.

Mr Walker contacted the Mail to ask why the community mental health team in Abingdon had seemingly not been able to help Mr Cresdee – or them.

He and other neighbours are convinced Mr Cresdee’s lawbreaking is an attempt to get back into the safety of custody where he does not have to care for himself.

Appearing at Oxford Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday, that is exactly what the former physicist said himself, but Judge Booker had little sympathy.

Sentencing, he said: “Mr Cresdee, I am entirely convinced you knew exactly what you were doing. These are relatively minor offences but it keeps happening and in the end I have to think about protecting the public from your stated desire to pinch bikes and food and anything just to get yourself in front of me.”

Judge Booker sentenced Mr Cresdee to a total of 56 days in prison, of which he will serve at least half, and concluded: “I can see quite easily you will be in front of me again in the future.”

Mr Cresdee replied: “It’s 72 per cent certain.”

The judge responded: “I think it’s even higher than that.”

Mr Cresdee’s neighbour Mr Walker said: “It seems to me completely apparent that this is a classic case of manic depression, but the mental health team won’t even talk to us about it – this is the frustration we’ve got.”

Oxfordshire’s mental health authority Oxford Health, which runs the Abingdon community mental health team, said it would not comment on individual cases, but spokeswoman Rhianne Pope said: “We will always try to engage with people who are referred to our services to try and get them the most suitable help.

“People can be referred to us by GPs, partner agencies, the voluntary sector and other statutory services.

“Sometimes people may not want to initially engage with our services, but we will always work with the system to address their needs and make sure they get the help they need.”

An ‘extraordinary’ case: Martin Cresdee

Martin Cresdee earned his degree in physics from Imperial College London in the 1970s and went on to work at the Atomic Energy Agency in Culham for 20 years.

In 1995 he appeared on TV’s Mastermind where his specialist subject was rocket scientist Robert Goddard.

In 1992 he had an argument with his boss and walked out. Soon after he had a breakdown and has not worked since. 

He was diagnosed with a ‘maladjustment disorder’, a loose term which makes his behaviour difficult to treat – prescription drugs never seemed to help.

He continued to live with his wife Diana at their house in Hobbs Close until 2011, when Mrs Cresdee went to live in a care home in Charlbury. She died in April 2012, aged 71. 

Left with no source of income, Mr Cresdee stopped paying his bills, buying new clothes or food and eventually gave up bathing.

At first, neighbours did what they could to help. One family even took him into their home on Christmas Day, but Mr Cresdee’s control of life spiralled away.

He first came to the attention of the Oxford Mail in November 2013 when Chilton business director Damian Hickman tried to raise awareness of his plight. 

When this newspaper visited Mr Cresdee, his house was cold and dark, and he shuffled around inside in tattered clothes only answering questions in short, mumbled sentences.

He told the paper then: “If things don’t go my way, I get upset and frustrated. If things are going badly, I just cave in.”

He said mental health specialists told him there was nothing more they could do to help him. In the two years since, Mr Cresdee’s neighbours say his behaviour has become increasingly erratic and antisocial and police started regularly visiting his home.