ARMED police were involved in a siege at a Rhyl flat after a man had threatened to stab a mother and her five-year-old daughter as they walked along a street, a court heard on Wednesday (May 27).

Jailing him for 14 months, Judge Niclas Parry told Lee Michael Jones, 32, of Windsor Street, Rhyl: "It was bizarre behaviour but it was terrifying for that lady and she was reduced to hiding behind a van with her five-year-old child.”

Mold crown court heard Jones, who admitted affray, had been staring at the woman stranger. He smelled of alcohol and was foaming at the mouth.

Maria Masselis, prosecuting, said the woman and girl tried to hide behind a van and were then locked inside a hairdressers’ salon for safety. But Jones banged on the salon windows and shouted: "I will get you.”

Jones walked home. But when a police officer attended there on February 20 he had been at the window shouting: "F*** off the lot of you.”

Items were thrown from the window and the defendant threatened to shoot police with a crossbow and blow up his flat. Armed police were called in and he eventually went to the door.

Counsel said a crossbow, machete and hammer were in the flat.

Jones had a string of convictions including for violence.

Simon Killeen, defending, said Jones had been in custody since his arrest and under the Covid prison regime. “He does have mental health issues. He’s seeking assistance in relation to those from the prison authorities,” the barrister added.

Mr Killeen said the crossbow was never loaded and no-one had been injured. He surrendered after seven hours.

Judge Parry said any prison term was tougher now because of the Covid crisis.