Knife-wielding man baited police in stand-off at Wakefield-charity shelter
A man who wielded a flick knife and a tyre iron had to be coaxed out of a flat after he barricaded himself inside.
Police were called to Woodview in Normanton after Jamie Griffiths became irate and began to smash up the premises, Leeds Crown Court heard.
The 38-year-old was jailed after admitting possessing an offensive weapon and criminal damage. He was also in breach of a suspended sentence order from April of last year after he tried to burn down a flat over an argument about his neighbour’s loud music.
Earlier this year Griffiths had been staying at a flat on Wakefield Road run by the charity Turning Lives Around, which helps people with mental-health needs.
On February 16, the police were called by staff because Griffiths had become volatile, complaining about his lack of money.
He had the flick knife and the tyre iron in his hands in the flat when police turned up.
He told officers he was suicidal and that officers would have to “put him down” if they stormed his flat, prosecutor Zanisha Herbert.
It was thought that a negotiator would be required but Griffiths eventually gave himself up.
Having been arrested, he became upset and tried to strangle himself with the cord on his hooded top.
It was estimated that he had caused up to £1,000 of damage in the flat.
Griffiths appeared in court this week from HMP Leeds where he was being held on remand.
Mitigating, John Bottomley said that following his brother’s death, Griffiths’ mental health had deteriorated.
He added: “He completely accepts what happened was wrong and he is remorseful.
“It was another cry for help. He was very much in crisis and only making threats to himself.”
Judge Ray Singh said that he acknowledged Griffiths’ long-standing drug addiction, but said he had “refused assistance” for welfare benefits.
He said of the incident at the Normanton flat: “You were trashing the very help provided to you.”
He activated six months of his previous arson offence, and gave him another six months for his latest offences, making a total of 12 months’ jail.