POLICE were threatened with a makeshift flamethrower by a knife-wielding man during a four-hour lockdown siege.

Carl Owston was “frustrated” at not being able to contact his key worker at his mother’s flat in Hangleton and started making threats.

Police were called to Harmsworth Crescent at the beginning of April, leading to a four-hour stand-off involving armed police, paramedics, the fire brigade, and police helicopter.

Officers saw Owston, 31, with two knives, threatening to slit his own throat and stab himself in the stomach.

He told officers he had a shotgun and would blow up the flat and threatened the officers with an aerosol can and cigarette lighter as a makeshift flamethrower.

The Argus:

Lewes Crown Court heard that Owston has unstable personality disorder and was struggling during the lockdown. But he spat at and assaulted officers when he was finally detained.

Judge Shani Barnes said Owston had “laid in wait for the officers” during an “appalling siege”.

“They spent a huge amount of time, money and manpower trying to get you under control,” she told him, as she jailed him for eight months.

The Argus:

Kyle Fournillier, prosecuting, said Owston was also to be sentenced for assaulting PCs Matthew Smith, Andrew Trotter and Louis Wellfare at Somerhill Road, Hove. He tried to barricade himself into his room at the Wardley Hotel after threatening other residents.

Owston kicked out at the officers and attempted to bite PC Wellfare, telling him “I will bite your f****** face off.” He also spat at PC Smith.

Judge Barnes revealed that he was then convicted for incidents in January and February.

Mr Fournillier said the armed siege started in Harmsworth Crescent at 9.50am on April 1.

Owston had been drinking, and made threats to harm himself with two knives, the court heard. He also threatened to douse himself in petrol and set the flat ablaze. Police negotiators had to be called in, Mr Fournillier said.

The Argus:

Later, in custody, he headbutted PC Raffaele Cioffi, and kicked at officers Samuel Bettles and Ben Starr. Owston also spat at them.

Mr Fournillier said: “It caused distress and alarm, as spitting is disgusting and degrading and is made all the more serious during the current coronavirus situation.”

Kelly Thomas, defending, asked for a suspended sentence because Owston has made great progress in dealing with his mental health problems, and was under stress during the lockdown.

Owston admitted seven assaults on police, resisting arrest, and causing a public nuisance.