‘I have weapons and
MAN POINTED A LOADED CROSSBOW AT POLICE OFFICERS
Reporter CROSSBOW-ARMED Mark Coates has walked free from court despite sparking an armed siege.
Boozed up Coates pointed the loaded weapon at police during a terrifying four-hour stand-off.
Officers attended his South Shields flat after he dialled 999 and said he had weapons, including a gun, and was going to kill someone.
But, when two police constables arrived, they found the 50-year-old brandishing a loaded crossbow and immediately called for back-up, a court heard.
During the next four hours, Coates leaned out of an upstairs window of the flat on Moorland Road and pointed the weapon at armed officers and police negotiators, forcing a cordon to be put in place.
He was finally arrested when he came out of his front door – but he claimed in interview he had no memory of the incident and could only recall hearing on the radio that a siege was taking place at his house, Newcastle Crown Court was told.
Police seized the crossbow and two arrows from the property and also found a further arrow, which had been fired into a bedroom wall.
Now, Coates has avoided a stint behind bars as he was given a suspended sentence after pleading guilty to affray and possession of cannabis.
The Recorder of Newcastle Judge Paul Sloan QC told him: “You should be under no illusion this was a serious offence.
“The officers were placed in danger given that you were brandishing a potentially lethal weapon at a time when you were drunk.
“More over, members of the public had to be ushered to a place of safety and the siege that ensued involved emergency services for some four hours. The offence undoubtedly attracts a custodial sentence.
“You should realise you have come within a hair’s breadth of going straight to prison this afternoon. I take the view it is appropriate to give you a chance today.”
Neil Pallister, prosecuting, said Coates rang 999 at around noon on February 8 this year and immediately told the call handler: “Come and see us, I’m going to kill myself. I’m going outside and I will kill someone. I have weapons, I have a gun and I will kill somebody.”
Two police officers were sent to the scene and, on opening Coates’s front door, they saw him standing at the top of his stairs pointing a loaded crossbow at them.
The officers immediately closed the door and moved to a nearby street, where they called for the Armed Response Support Unit and negotiators.