A 65-YEAR-OLD man from a village near Selby is beginning a two year long suspended prison sentence, after he sparked a three hour long armed siege at his home.

Glyn Powell, of Kellington, pleaded guilty to charges of affray and possession of a firearm, with intent to cause fear, when he appeared at York Crown Court yesterday [Monday].

The court heard that father-of-two Powell, an experienced union representative, had lost his temper when two bailiffs appeared at his rural home demanding payment for a council tax debt he knew nothing about.

He feared the pair would start to take belongings from his house, and brandished both an eight inch knife and an air-rifle at the pair threatening to shoot them. When armed police arrived a siege began, and although Powell did not use the weapons again it was three hours before he surrendered peacefully.

Sentencing Powell, the Recorder of York Judge Stephen Ashurst told him the two bailiffs had simply been trying to do their job, and added:

"Your response to the bailiffs was to behave in an extreme, violent and potentially dangerous way."

"If an offender had confronted you with a knife and then a fire arm, and issued foul mouthed threats to shoot you, I imagine you would be the first to expect the courts to deal with them in an appropriate way."

Prosecutors told Judge Ashurst that once he was arrested, Powell was unremorseful and said he would do the same if bailiffs appeared again.

For Powell, defence barrister Glenn Parsons said his client realised this was a serious incident, and added: "It is something of a personal tragedy for him to be before the crown court."

The judge said he would take Powell's previous good character and health problems into account. He handed Powell a four month prison sentence for the charge of affray, and a nine month sentence for possession of a weapon with intent to cause fear, with the two sentences to run concurrently and suspended for two years.

Judge Ashurst added: "It's difficult to talk of a man of 65 learning their lesson, but I don't think you are too old to learn."