A man arrested following a siege on an address in Ipswich has been remanded in custody to appear at crown court later this month.

Martin Saltiel was arrested on New Year’s Day after a armed officers, a dog unit and the police helicopter swarmed an address in Skylark Lane, Ipswich, on January 1.

Saltiel, 48, of Skylark Lane, was subsequently charged with affray – a public order offence of using or threatening unlawful violence towards another and causing that person to fear for their personal safety.

Officers were called to the scene of the alleged offence at 11.05am, after residents of the street reported a man in the rear garden of a property, armed with an axe and causing damage to the building.

Neighbours described witnessing the arrival of squad cars, armed units and a dog van, supported from the air by the police helicopter.

At about 12.45pm, the drama concluded with a man being arrested and led away from the scene in a police car.

Saltiel appeared at South East Suffolk Magistrates’ Court, in Ipswich, on Wednesday.

Via video link from Martlesham police investigation centre, and sitting in a wheelchair provided by police, he entered no plea to the charge of affray and was kept in custody to appear at Ipswich Crown Court on January 31.

Magistrates concluded the case was not suitable to be dealt with by summary trial and must be heard by a judge.

John Dennehy, chairman of the bench of three magistrates, told Saltiel: “Due to the seriousness of this alleged offence, we decline jurisdiction.”

Saltiel’s solicitor, David Allan, made no representations on behalf of his client.

On the day of the alleged incident, Barry Wright, a resident of Skylark Lane, described seeing two police cars arrive at about 11.15am, followed by two armed response units.

“They went to a flat and guided out the lady who lives there alone,” he added.

“She has trouble with her legs and they helped her into a police car. Then they got her neighbours out as well.

“They were here for a good hour-and-a-quarter after that.

Police said actions were concentrated on a specific property and that no shots were fired by armed officers.