A MAN at the centre of a stand-off with armed police, after attacking his partner with an ornamental Samurai sword, was yesterday jailed for two-and-a-half years.

John Piggins kicked open the door of Dawn Elliott's council home, in Leadgate, near Consett, County Durham, before confronting her in the bedroom with the sword.

During the incident he stabbed her just above the knee, inflicting a half-inch deep wound, and also struck her on the arm with the weapon, before she ran bleeding from the house, at about 3am on June 25.

Piggins, 32, who had earlier confronted Ms Elliot in an incident as she played darts with members of her family in a local pub, was left in the house with the couple's 15-year-old son.

Durham Crown Court heard told that although armed officers surrounded the premises, in Willow Crescent, it was more than nine hours later before Piggins emerged and was arrested in the street.

David Crook, prosecuting, said that apart from the knee injury, which remains "painful", Ms Elliott received other cuts and bruises, and still suffers flashbacks of the moment he ran at her with the sword.

Mr Crook said Ms Elliott was his long-term partner, but their 15-year relationship was "on and off".

Piggins, of Cross Street, Leadgate, admitted wounding Ms Elliott at a previous hearing.

Richard Bloomfield, for Piggins, said the incident's origins were, "in drink-fuelled anger".

Jailing him, Judge Tony Lancaster told him it was "a grave offence" which must have proved "extremely frightening" to Ms Elliott.