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A tense five-hour armed siege in a Tyneside town centre was sparked by a yob holding a fishing rod.

Police saw Christopher Scott pointing what they thought was a long-barrelled weapon at them when they turned up at his flat in North Shields.

Northumbria Police’s armed response unit descended on the scene and trained their guns on the property, believing Scott was armed.

During a lengthy stand-off which brought the area to a standstill, Scott threatened to stab police officers and threw various items to the ground, including a frying pan which went smashed through the sun roof of a car.

But it turned out the “gun” was in fact a fishing rod and now the 22-year-old has been spared prison for affray and damaging property.

Imposing a community order at Newcastle Crown Court, Judge Robin Mairs said: “Police were called to your flat and you were threatening and abusive.

“They thought at one stage you may have a long-barrelled weapon and firearms officers attended.

“This could have ended catastrophically and disastrously for you and others.

“Usually people who commit offences like this go to custody for a long time but because of the unique circumstances, your age and lack of previous convictions and the fact you have been out of trouble since, allows me to take a different course.”

Police were called to Scott’s housing association flat on Howard Street, North Shields, on the afternoon of September 30 last year.

The court heard he refused to let them in and issued threats to the officers.

Prosecutor Bridie Smurthwaite said: “When they tried to speak to him he was abusive and made threats towards the officers.

“He said he would stab them if they tried to go in. Various units attended, including the firearms unit and officers stationed themselves in a flat directly opposite his flat.

“Officers thought he was holding a long-barrelled weapon and pointing it directly towards them. They were in fear for their lives, though no such item was in fact found at the flat.”

(Image: Adrian Don)

As well as throwing down the frying pan, Scott also pulled two roof tiles off during the siege.

Miss Smurthwaite said: “All of this started out of concern for his own safety.

“His family attended during the incident.”

Scott had also caused damage inside the flat by throwing items at the walls.

The 22-year-old, never in trouble before, pleaded guilty to affray and two charges of criminal damage.

He was given a community order for 12 months with supervision.

At an earlier hearing Scott pleaded not guilty to possessing an imitation firearm, namely a fishing rod which was believed to be a gun. His not guilty plea was accepted by prosecutors.

The court heard Scott has now moved back in with his mum, who is a stabilising influence on him.

Judge Mairs told him: “You have a very supportive and decent family behind you.

“Make full use of that, take advantage of it. They, more than anyone else, will have your best interests at heart.”