A MAN who caused a five-hour armed siege after cutting his ex-partner with a meat cleaver has been jailed.

Armed police were called to Whitehawk Close, Brighton, at 4am on June 19 after residents reported seeing a man armed with a weapon at a bungalow in the street.

William Miller, 36, unemployed, of Whitehawk Close, Brighton, had assaulted his then partner, kicking her and putting a meat cleaver to her throat and using it to cut her forehead.

Rachel Beckett, prosecuting, told Brighton Crown Court: “His ex-partner was there until the early hours of June 19.

“She tried to confront him and he shouted at her ‘you ******* *****’.

“She called the police and can be heard on recordings saying ‘oh my God, he is coming’. Officers arrived at the door and she ran outside screaming. She was taken to the hospital and her injuries were treated and photographed.”

Miller told officers he had an axe inside his house.

Dozens of armed officers in body armour carrying handguns and assault rifles made their way to the street, surrounding the bungalow and cordoning off the road.

Miller initially refused to come out of the property but finally agreed after five hours of negotiations with officers. He was then arrested.

Officers seized a crossbow found in Miller’s possession but police said it was not used at any stage.

Ms Beckett said Miller made threats to officers, including a woman, with the crossbow.

The officer said he pointed it at her looking through the scope.

Several other weapons were found at Miller’s house, including a metal bat, four swords, an axe, a boomerang and a blade.

Some 15 pots filled with soil were found inside a grow tent in his house and various other pieces of hydroponic growing equipment and paraphernalia were also found.

Miller pleaded guilty to two counts of ABH, one of affray and a separate count of being concerned in the production of cannabis.

He was sentenced to a total of three years and eight months in prison yesterday.

Judge Paul Tain said: “The 999 calls made demonstrate terror on the part of the victim.

“Armed officers in a slightly different set of circumstances might have had to use their firearms on him.”

Judge Tain ordered all of the weapons and paraphernalia linked to growing cannabis found at the bungalow to be forfeited and destroyed.