A MAN who threw a smoke grenade at police during a two-hour stand-off at his home has been jailed for almost two years.

Bradford Crown Court heard how firearms officers were called to John Burnside’s property in Greenway, Glusburn, when he threatened to burn or bomb it on June 28 this year.

Burnside, 30, who was described as sounding “very angry”, threw the device, which exploded with a loud bang.

Police armed with Pava spray, tasers and batons chose not to enter the house for fear that he may have other weapons and called firearms officers for back-up.

Officers arrived at 10.30pm and Burnside was arrested at 12.29am on June 29 following a two-hour standoff.

The “sustained” incident followed an unprovoked attack by Burnside earlier that day on a man who he headbutted as he passed him in the street in Glusburn.

A search of the property revealed another smoke grenade in a cupboard. When assessed and examined it was said to match what is commercially available as a smoke grenade with a ring pull.

The court heard that the device “was determined to be indistinguishable from those which are found on the market and therefore no further action was taken as it could not be proven to be lethal". 

Police officers who were present at the scene were concerned Burnside could have more weapons inside.

One said: “I was at this point concerned that the male was going to come out of the address, possibly with a weapon. He sounded very angry. I was very concerned for my safety and that of my colleagues.”

Another said: “I had a belief that he had further weapons or firearms of sorts.”

Burnside was arrested by firearms officers. When interviewed he gave “no comment” answers to all questions asked of him.

The court heard that Burnside, who has a history of mental health issues, had previous convictions for violence including assault occasioning actual bodily harm, battery, assaulting emergency workers, and resisting or obstructing police, plus affray and criminal damage.

At the time of the incidents in June, he was subject to a 20-month suspended jail sentence for ABH after he went into a man’s home and attacked him.

His Honour Judge Colin Burn sentenced Burnside to four months imprisonment for making threats to kill, plus four months for assault and three months for affray, both to be served concurrently.

He also activated 16 months of Burnside’s suspended prison sentence, to be served consecutively, making 20 months in total.

He said: “The police came to where you were living. There was a two-hour stand-off. You threw a smoke grenade at the police, which exploded with a loud bang so obviously it was something that would have caused the officers significant alarm.

“I accept that it was not likely to cause very serious harm by virtue of the munition that it was but nevertheless they weren’t to know that. At the end of that incident, the firearms officers had to be called out as the risk you presented was unpredictable.

“I entirely accept that there will be times when you are well enough to look at that behaviour and realise that it’s completely unacceptable. The problem from the court’s point of view is that it’s unacceptable at any time.”