A MAN whose actions led to a police response over what was reported as a firearms incident has been sentenced to two years in jail.

Ryan Kelly, 23, of Busticle Lane, Sompting, had pleaded guilty at a previous hearing to possessing a firearm with intent to cause distress, possession of a prohibited firearm and affray.

At 7.30pm on February 8, Sussex Police received a call from Kelly, who was at his home, and claimed to be in possession of a Taser and a gun.

He demanded armed police come out and shoot him dead or he would go outside and “go crazy”.

Sussex Police call takers and officers kept him talking on the telephone for 56 minutes trying to calm him down, while other officers secured the area to keep the public safe.

When officers approached him at the property, Kelly was holding a gun. It turned out to be a BB gun but because of the lighting, distance, and the fact that it was exceptionally realistic, it was indistinguishable from a real pistol.

Unarmed officers attempted to engage with him but withdrew to safe cover when he became agitated.

Officers from the tactical firearms unit then approached him, to within what would have been the effective lethal range of the gun he was holding had it been real.

After trying unsuccessfully to talk him into peacefully surrendering the gun, they fired a single rubber bullet, knocking the gun from Kelly’s hand, and he was then arrested.

An electronic stun gun was then found tucked in his trousers.

In phone calls to the police Kelly had said he wanted to be “martyred” and mentioned Independent Office for Police Conduct investigations.

When arrested he was wearing latex gloves which prevented his fingerprints from transferring to the imitation firearm.

After his arrest, a search of his address found drugs, police-style equipment, a further imitation firearm, and a variety of other weapons.

When Kelly was taken into custody and interviewed he said he had no injuries and the place the rubber bullet hit did not hurt.

He was seen by specialist medical and mental health advisers.

He would not give any reason for his actions and was charged with possession of a prohibited firearm, possession of an imitation firearm with intent to cause distress, and affray.

Detective Constable Noel Simmonds said: “It is clear that Kelly has real problems to work through and I hope the sentence handed to him will give him the time to do that in an environment that will keep him, the public, and my colleagues safe in future.”

He was sentenced at Lewes Crown Court.