A FATHER who started a blaze and threatened to kill police during a siege at his home was jailed for three-and-a-half years yesterday.

Robert Hawksby, 42, threw household appliances from the upstairs window and threatened to kill any police officer who came near during the stand-off in Portslade Road, Sunderland, on June 20 last year.

Newcastle Crown Court heard Hawksby was armed with knives and scissors and had a razor blade taped to his left ankle.

The situation came to an end when Hawksby hurled himself through the bedroom window and landed at the feet of officers below.

Caroline Goodwin, prosecuting, said Hawksby's family contacted emergency services when he barricaded himself into a room upstairs.

When officers arrived, he was repeatedly punching an already broken window and had injuries to his arm from the smashed glass.

Miss Goodwin said: "He again began to punch the broken glass."

She added: "The officers could see he was holding to his neck a pair of scissors and a knife, pressing the items into the side of his neck."

Hawksby jumped from the window after setting fire to a pile of clothes in the room.

Judge Beatrice Bolton jailed Hawksby, who pleaded guilty to arson and affray, for three-and-a-half years.

Jamie Adams, defending, said Hawksby had a long-standing alcohol problem but has "dried out" while in prison.