AN ABUSIVE yob who sparked an armed siege involving cops in riot gear has been jailed for 18 months.
Boozed-up John Boyce, 40, threatened to stab police officers, smashed a hammer off their protective shields, and even hurled a knife at them during the horrifying stand-off.
Paisley Sheriff Court heard how the foul-mouthed lout sparked mayhem on April 17 after barricading himself inside a house.
The disturbance kicked off at around 9pm when intoxicated Boyce completely lost the plot after refusing to let his partner back into the property.
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His concerned girlfriend called 999 and reported the incident to cops amid fears for his physical wellbeing, however Boyce became aggressive and attacked police who were trying to gain access to the property.
He appeared in the dock for sentence after pleading guilty to charges of behaving in a threatening and abusive manner likely to cause fear or alarm, by shouting, swearing, and brandishing a knife while uttering threats of stabbing police officers.
He also pleaded to throwing a knife at them, striking out at their protective shields with hammer and committing the offences while out on bail.
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His defence agent David Nicolson told the court: “My client has pleaded guilty and has been in custody for 136 days, since the time of his arrest in April, and he fully accepts his responsibility for his actions.
“Alcohol featured in the offence, which involved malice towards the officers for which he has decided to make the
plea.
“It was a somewhat spontaneous act which had arisen in the circumstances but more from historic effects brought upon by alcohol and substance misuse.”
The lawyer added Boyce had voluntarily tackled his drug problems while behind bars and was willing to undergo help for his drinking once released.
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However, Sheriff Seith Ireland branded it “a very anxious case” and he slated Boyce for endangering police officers and wasting valuable police and court time over of his alcohol and substance abuse.
Sheriff Ireland said: “The circumstances of this incident involving the police happened on April 17 this year when your partner contacted police because when she returned you were alone in the house, and she couldn’t get in because you refused her entry.
“A 999 call was made and police who were contacted knocked on the door and identified themselves as police officers to you, and you responded with your choice of language.
“You said, ‘Any cops come through that door and I will f**king stab you all.’
“They requested assistance at that point.
“A knife was thrown out from the balcony, narrowly missing the officers. And even intensive negotiations, which had began at the time, were ultimately unsuccessful.
“The police had to put on protective equipment and with the potential harm to officers, the door had to be forced and even at that point you continued the disturbance, you kicked their protective shields and struck out at some with a hammer.”
This all happened at Maple Drive in Johnstone Castle.
Sheriff Ireland jailed Boyce for 18 months, reduced from two years because of the early guilty plea, for what he branded “a very serious offence.”
