A man who threatened to kill police officers during a six-hour-siege has been jailed for five years.

John Walley, 42, lived in a metal container in an industrial compound on Factory Road at Sandycroft on Deeside , Mold Crown Court heard on Friday, April 22.

Walley of Burntwood Road in Drury, Buckley, was originally charged with false imprisonment on February 27 and possessing a firearm with intent to cause fear of violence the following day.

But those charges were dropped in court.

He admitted affray on February 28 after he threatened to kill police officers , three charges of possessing drugs with intent to supply – cocaine, a form of heroin and diazepam tablets – and possessing the bullet – which he claimed was simply memorabilia.

Prosecutor David Mainstone said police went to the container compound in Factory Road, Sandycroft, and discovered a cannabis factory which was nothing to do with the defendant.

At 9am the following day a police officer guarding the compound saw a door open and close slightly.

It was realised someone was inside and armed police attended.

But a standoff developed which lasted several hours.

At 11.30am police negotiators made contact with Walley inside the container and via a third party he made threats to shoot any police officer who attended.

He also made threats to harm himself, said he had access to firearms and was intent on “death by cop”.

He gave himself up at 5pm and was arrested and taken away.

Inside the container were 20.8 grammes of cocaine valued at up to £8,000, 270 diazepam tablets valued at £270 and a rare form of heroin which was of poor quality.

'Bizarre situation'

Walley had previous convictions and had received a 54-month sentence at Chester Crown Court in 1995 for drugs offences.

Defending barrister Myles Wilson said that it was a bizarre set of circumstances.

He had his own home, there were difficulties in his personal life, and he was living in the container.

The defendant was nothing to do with the cannabis factory.

He believed the situation would end by him being shot by the police.

There was a reference to “death by cop” and he threatened to harm himself but fortunately he did not do anything foolish.

He had no means of firing the live bullet which was a memento.

“In recent times he has been using too much drugs, mixing with people he should not have been mixing with, and he found himself in this rather bizarre situation and coming to the attention of the police,” said Mr Wilson.

Jailing him, Judge Geraint Walters said it was perfectly plain that he was supplying class A and C drugs.

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