By Lauren Grice
A man has been jailed for two years for causing an armed stand-off in King’s Lynn, Norfolk, last year.
Gedminas Bubelis, of Stonegate Street, pleaded guilty to causing criminal damage and being reckless as to whether life was in danger at Norwich Crown Court on February 20th.
On September 21st 2012, the 25-year-old damaged a gas pipe in his flat and threatened to set it alight. Several nearby properties were evacuated as a precaution and the street was closed to traffic.
A large contingent of police were called to the scene and hostage negotiators took over when Bubelis refused to exit the property. However, he eventually handed himself in to officers.
Commenting on the case, Chief Inspector Ady Porter said: “This incident caused maximum disruption to local people and had the potential to endanger life. We responded quickly and professionally and are pleased to see that this man’s actions are being punished.”
Earlier in the week, 29-year-old Shane Denton was jailed for five years and four months over a knife attack against a police officer in October 2012.
Following an evening of heavy drinking, he threw a bottle at the Holt Road Police station and was confronted by Sergeant Andy Smith. Denton launched a vicious attack, wielding two knives, but was restrained and arrested by Sgt Smith, who was protected from injury by his body armour.
