Man locked himself in a house in Grey Street

The drama unfolded in Bishop Auckland at about 11.30pm on Wednesday after police responded to reports that a woman was being assaulted in the street.

When officers arrived, a 35- year-old man, believed to have been involved in the incident, had locked himself in a house in Grey Street.

He was seen waving the sword and baseball bat from an upstairs window and making threats.

Reinforcements, including police dogs and their handlers from Durham Police, were called in shortly before midnight and the area was cordoned off until the early hours.

A team of armed officers surrounded the house while a police negotiator spoke to the man, said to be the woman’s former partner.

Witnesses told The Northern Echo how he threw a chest of drawers and other items out of the window.

People also said they heard a Staffordshire bull terrier barking while the man shouted “come on” from the window.

The stand-off continued until about 3.30am yesterday when he handed himself in.

The 22-year-old woman was taken by ambulance to Darlington Memorial Hospital for treatment.

One neighbour, who asked not to be named, said: “We are all very shocked. Everyone was out of their house watching what was going on. I would say we counted 18 police cars.

“It was pretty shocking.

We’ve been up all night.”

Another added: “I could hear shouting, so I looked out of the window and there were officers everywhere with guns.”

A man, who The Northern Echo understands is 35-year-old Stephen McGuinness, who lives in Grey Street, has been arrested on suspicion of assault and criminal damage.

He was in custody at Bishop Auckland police station last night, where he was being questioned.

The woman’s injuries were not serious and she was released from hospital yesterday lunchtime.

Anyone with information is asked to call police on 0345-60-60-365.