Knifeman locked up for rooftop siege

A MENACING knifeman who threatened to kill police while he was on the roof of Immingham Civic Centre has been jailed to protect the public – and given an Antisocial Behaviour Order.

He became abusive and aggressive and threatened to slit people's throats during a tense siege lasting four-and-a-half hours, a court heard.

Daniel Whewell, 21, of Hainton Avenue, Grimsby, admitted affray, possessing a knife, breaching an Asbo and causing criminal damage on January 4.

Jeremy Evans, prosecuting, told Grimsby Crown Court that Whewell dialled 999 at 8.45pm and told police: "I've got a knife. I'm going to kill somebody. I'll kill someone if you don't come and get me."

He was on top of a flat roof at the civic centre in Kennedy Way, Immingham, and shouted at police.

He became more abusive and aggressive, made threats and told them: "You'd better make sure they pay you double. I'm not coming down for the next two hours."

He yelled: "I'll slit your throats" and was carrying a large kitchen knife.

A firearms unit, ambulance and fire engine were called in. Whewell threatened to stab a police officer but later threw down the knife at about 10.15pm.

He hurled TV aerials down towards police and made threats that, if anyone came up, he would attack them with a knife.

He climbed down from the roof at 1.15am following a siege of four-and-a-half hours.

Whewell also admitted other offences of affray and breaching his Asbo on November 18.

The incident involved a disturbance at the County Hotel, Immingham, in which he became aggressive and hit Nicholas Lord in the face.

He threw a bottle at him and it smashed on a wall behind him. He waved a knife around and lunged with it towards Mr Lord.

The knife caught Mr Lord on the wrist, causing a scratch.

Andrew Bailey, mitigating, said both incidents involving knives were serious but the rooftop incident was a "cry for help" from Whewell.

"He accepts a great deal of inconvenience was caused, great concern was caused and nasty threats were made," said Mr Bailey.

Whewell had been struggling with the symptoms of serious drug taking and drinking. His mental health had been affected.

Judge David Tremberg said Whewell was a "young man of violence" who had shown "entrenched antisocial traits" including the use of knives.

"It's necessary to protect the public from you and to pass sentences that may deter you from behaving in this way in the future."

The siege incident showed paranoid, dangerous and irrational behaviour from Whewell, said Judge Tremberg.

The "precious resources" of the police were diverted from their duties and a "chilling feature" was that, if someone had made a wrong move, they could have ended up being caused serious harm.

Whewell, in custody since January, was jailed for three-and-a-half years and was given a three-year Asbo and a three-year restraining order.