AN IPSWICH man threatened to stab police officers during a siege at his home, a court heard. Police spent more than two hours outside Vincent Bennett's Nacton Road home on Tuesday night after he threatened them with kitchen knives and refused to come out.

AN IPSWICH man threatened to stab police officers during a siege at his home, a court heard.

Police spent more than two hours outside Vincent Bennett's Nacton Road home on Tuesday night after he threatened them with kitchen knives and refused to come out.

Magistrates in Ipswich heard that the incident began after Bennett had been arguing with his girlfriend Monica Clarke.

She called the police to tell them she did not want him in the house, but when they arrived he became aggressive.

Sandra Dyer, prosecuting, said: “It was a siege situation and I don't think I'm putting it too highly by calling it that.

“A number of police officers attended and his girlfriend answered the door.

“He came downstairs and entered a room to the rear of the hallway. When he reappeared he was holding two kitchen knives at shoulder height with the blades pointing towards the officers.

“He shouted 'If you come in to the house I'll stab you'.”

Bennett, 33, refused to calm down and a police negotiator had to be called in to help. It took more than two hours for police to enter the house and arrest him. He is now in custody.

Mrs Dyer said: “It was a siege situation in which a number of officers were threatened with violence by Mr Bennett.”

Bennett admitted a charge of affray.

Roger Thomson, mitigating, said: “My client unfortunately lost it. He was in an argument with his partner and lost his rag.

“He did not actually cause any violence to anybody, he was just wandering round the house with two knives.”

Bennett will be sentenced at Ipswich Crown Court. No date has been fixed for this yet.