Leeds street evacuated as chainsaw-wielding resident threatened to blow up his home
He fired a catapult at his neighbours and attacked officers who stormed his home
A street had to be evacuated after a chainsaw-wielding man threatened to blow up his home.
Negotiators had to be called to Silk Mill Avenue in Cookridge due to Paul Allen’s erratic behaviour.
The 34-year-old then tried to attack police officers with the chainsaw who stormed his maisonette flat.
He avoided jail at Leeds Crown Court after admitting charges of affray and making threats to kill.
Prosecutor Louise Pryke said a 999 call was made by Allen’s sister on the evening of May 2, after he had sent her a video message saying he was going to blow up his home.
He had positioned butane canisters around the windows.
It resulted in a “large-scale response” by the emergency services.
Ms Pryke said it was the third callout of a “similar threatening nature” in a short space of time.
Allen had threatened to blow up his home before even said he would cut off his own limbs.
When the police arrived on May 2, he was stood at the window holding a gas canister and a lighter.
He then came to the window with a working chainsaw which he held to his neck.
Neighbours were forced to leave their homes and Allen then began firing objects at them with the catapult from his balcony.
Arriving negotiators kept him talking at the bedroom window as special response officers quietly climbed up and into his living room.
They were unable to get into the barricaded bedroom after attempting to smash it down.
Allen then turned on a gas bottle, filling the room, so they were forced to retreat.
But they quickly made another attempt and Allen began waving the chainsaw through the hole made in the door, revving it close to one officer.
PAVA spray was used and they were eventually able to restrain Allen. He was taken to hospital and later interviewed by police.
Mitigating, Felicity Hemlin said his intention was to kill himself, but accepted it caused a fear of violence for others.
She said: “He was not in his right mind. He was suffering an acute mental-health crisis.”
She said he has been diagnosed with acute PTSD and has no previous convictions, although he has a reprimand for criminal damage.
She said: “He is sorry and remorseful for his behaviour. It was a cry for help.”
The judge, Recorder Simon Jackson KC gave him a 16-month sentence, suspended for 24 months, with 25 rehabilitation days to complete and 200 hours of unpaid work.