Jailed: Axeman who held two hostage and threatened police during Blurton siege

AN axeman who held two men hostage and threatened police has been jailed for 19 months.

Police went to arrest 38-year-old Mark Ibbs at his home in Blurton Road, Blurton, at 9pm on December 6 after an incident four days earlier when he damaged a man's bike outside Bargain Booze in Dresden.

But he did not go quietly and was arrested more than three hours later after armed police stormed into his house and used a taser gun on him, Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court heard yesterday.

Prosecutor Fiona Cortese said: "The defendant told the officers he would kill them. He used an axe to lean on the window and was foaming at the mouth and spitting.

Ruark HiFi with FREE headphones

Hylands Ltd & Panasonic Store

View details

Print voucher

Ruark HiFi - for lovers of good music and fantastic sound
Headphone offer is our own offer as test for these vouchers - so don't delay offer expires 25/05/13

Terms: Only with this voucher, choose a set of headphones up to 10% of the units price or add some to it if you want a dearer set
ie Unit for £300 would give you £30 towards headphones of your choice

Contact: 01782 342609

Valid until: Saturday, May 25 2013

"His girlfriend came running out. She was hysterical and upset."

The court was told two men were in the house with Ibbs at the time.

He was seen to grab one of them and drag him into another room.

"The defendant still had the axe in his hand and used it to attack the door frame," said Miss Cortese.

"He verbally abused the officers. He confirmed he had hostages and said he would release one if the officers got him some food."

Miss Cortese said after about 30 minutes one of the hostages went to a window at the back of the house and Ibbs entered the room and shouted that everyone was OK.

"At one point he held up a catapult and fired it," added Miss Cortese.

Police forced their way inside the house at 12.20am on December 7.

Ibbs was tasered before he was handcuffed and arrested.

He pleaded guilty to affray and criminal damage to the bike.

Joanne Wallbanks, mitigating, conceded the affray was serious.

She said Ibbs received his last prison sentence in 2007 and has tried his best to be a law abiding citizen since.

"He went off the rails when his children went into care and was drinking worrying amounts of alcohol," said Miss Wallbanks.

Judge Robert Trevor-Jones told Ibbs: "This was a very serious incident. You were in drink and highly agitated.

"It was an extended incident because of your conduct, wielding an axe, threatening the police. You even had a catapult and fired that in their direction. Armed police had to be called.

"There were two occupants, including one elderly male. It was no doubt a very frightening experience."