MATTHEW CHARLES CUMMINGS
A man who threatened two men with a meat cleaver and sparked an eight-hour standoff with police officers has been jailed for 16 months.
Matthew Charles Cummings, 34 and of no fixed abode, was handed the jail term at Bournemouth Crown Court on Friday 12 February after pleading guilty at the same court in December to threats to kill and possession of cannabis.
The court heard that in the early hours of Saturday 12 September 2015, police were called to an address in Mountbatten Gardens in Bournemouth. Cummings told officers he was holding two men hostage and threatened to harm them if police entered the building.
A lengthy stand-off ensued and several roads were closed while police negotiators, supported by armed response officers, dealt with the incident.
During the siege, officers witnessed Cummings holding a meat cleaver up against one of his hostages and made threats to harm him.
After eight hours of negotiations, Cummings surrendered to officers and the two victims escaped unharmed.
Cummings was arrested and was found to be in possession of a small amount of cannabis.
Detective Constable Chris Waters, of Bournemouth CID, said: “Cummings’ actions on that day were out of control and extremely dangerous.
“I hope the sentence handed out today reinforces the fact that such serious actions will not be tolerated in Dorset.”
Chief Superintendent Mark Callaghan, who was commander during the incident, said: “We had to cordon off the area to allow specially-trained officers to deal with the situation and I would like to again thank those residents who were affected on that day for their patience.
“I would also like to take this opportunity to praise all the officers involved in the incident for their professionalism and commitment to ensure a satisfactory ending to what was a life-threatening incident.”
