A TWO-DAY booze binge contributed to three men turning a party into a five-hour police siege, Perth Sheriff Court heard yesterday.

Officers were investigating reports of loud music and anti-social behaviour at a Bridge of Earn flat, but ended up at the property armed with riot shields.

Reports of loud music, shouting and swearing from a flat in Muirmont Court had initially brought members of Perth and Kinross Council’s anti-social noise team to the area.

However, the incident escalated after the warnings were ignored and increasingly distressed neighbours contacted the police.

Ring-leader Gavin Mann (24), a prisoner at HMP Perth, but previously of Manse Crescent, Stanley, together with fellow accused Ryan Stewart (21) and Liam Pringle (19), denied officers access to the flat throughout the early hours, locking the external door to the block and shouting abuse and threats from a window.

Mann himself kept the police at bay with threats of a crossbow and a 12-inch knife, telling officers they were “sitting ducks” and warning what would happen if they entered the flat.

Police negotiators spent more than two hours at the scene before handing over to colleagues in the Police Support Unit. And after further efforts to access the property proved fruitless, the PSU were given permission to force entry.

Once in the block, officers were able to lead a woman and her child from the flat, with the alarmed pair taken to police headquarters in Perth where they were seen by a social worker.

The three accused had barricaded themselves in the living room using a sofa and continued to shout and swear at officers. However, rather than a crossbow and a knife, officers found Mann and his fellow accused armed with broom handles, a jar and a selection of ornaments.

After a stand-off during which officers were required to use their shields to protect themselves, the three put down the objects and indicated they wanted to leave.

All three were taken to police headquarters.

Mann, Stewart and Pringle admitted that on November 24 and 25 last year, at an address in Muirmont Court, Bridge of Earn, over the course of several hours, they conducted themselves in a disorderly manner, shouted and swore and played loud music.

The charge also alleged that they uttered threats, challenged police officers to fight and brandished a jar, an ornament and two broom handles at police officers, barricaded themselves into a room within the flat, refused to desist, placed people in a state of fear and alarm and committed a breach of the peace.

Mann alone pled guilty to a separate charge of uttering threats to three police officers, brandishing a bottle, stating that he had a crossbow and a 12-inch blade and threatening to assault the officers using the weapons.

Mann’s solicitor, Paul Ralph, said, “By the time of this incident, my client had been on an extended bender and had been drinking for two days. He was invited to go to this property for a party and remembers only bits and pieces of what transpired during the course of the night.

“There was no crossbow and there was no 12-inch blade and neither of these items were found. They were empty, albeit serious, threats.”

Mr Ralph said his client was embarrassed by his actions on the night, adding that the owner of the flat had recently been made the subject of an anti-social behaviour order.

Jailing Mann for 11-and-a-half months, Sheriff McCreadie said, “You have an appalling record with numerous convictions for breach of the peace and for problems with the police. You were clearly the ring-leader. I take into account that there were no weapons, but the threat to the police was very real.”

Stewart, of HMP Perth, but previously of Cairney Road, St Madoes, was placed on probation for 12 months and ordered to undertake alcohol counselling.

Meanwhile, Pringle, of Appin Terrace, Perth, was warned he was “shaping up to be a major offender.” The sheriff ordered him to carry out 240 hours’ community service.