A psychiatric assessment is to be made of a man accused of barricading himself into a loft in a stand-off with armed police.

The report will be made on defendant Paul Anthony Kailofer to assess if he is fit to stand trial at Durham Crown Court.

He is accused of causing criminal damage, threatening to damage property and possessing a knife/bladed article in public.

The charges arise from an incident in Auckland Terrace, Shildon, which began in mid-afternoon on Wednesday December 27, when the defendant was said to have been armed with a knife before later climbing onto the roof.

The Northern Echo: Case of defendant in Shildon house siege adjourned until April 9 at Durham Crown Court to allow for

It was several hours later that the defendant surrendered to police following the use of trained negotiators, with armed officers present.

Following his arrest and charging, the 28-year-old defendant, of Dalton Crescent, Shildon, appeared before magistrates days later.

The case was sent to Durham Crown Court and the defendant was remanded to remain in custody in the intervening period.

He appeared at the crown court via video link from nearby HMP Durham, for a plea hearing yesterday (Monday January 29).

The Northern Echo:

But when asked if her client could be arraigned, Rachel Hedworth, representing Kailofer, asked that the charges were not yet put to him.

“There’s an issue over his fitness to plead.

“He’s not receiving any psychiatric treatment in the community, but it’s quite clear some of what he is saying now doesn’t quite make sense.”

Miss Hedworth said a psychiatrist has been instructed on behalf of the defence to prepare a report.

Judge James Adkin said if the report finds the defendant unfit to plead, a second assessment would have to be made for the court.

The judge said whatever the finding of the report, the prospect of it resulting in a trial appear to be “limited”.

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He adjourned the case until April 9, for the report’s findings to be outlined, and if he is considered fit to plead, the charges will then be put to the defendant.

As a fail-safe, a timetable was set for a trial starting at the court on June 25.

The 28-year-old defendant, of Dalton Crescent, Shildon, was remanded to remain in custody until the next hearing, on April 9.