Two jailed after cold takeaway led to 14-hour siege in Bedfordshire

Two men carried out a 14-hour siege from the fourth floor

Two men have been jailed after a cold takeaway delivery sparked a "terrifying" 14-hour siege at a block of flats.

Paul Burton, 45, and Nathan Turner, 37 initially kept a delivery man prisoner for two hours in a lift in Bedford.

The pair, who were drunk and on drugs, claimed their kebab was late, then threatened neighbours and police with an air rifle.

Burton was jailed for seven years and Turner for 20 months.

Prosecutor Adrian Fleming told Luton Crown Court the two men ordered the food at about 03:00 GMT on 27 November 2022.

When the delivery driver arrived on the eighth floor of the flats in Church Lane, the two defendants placed a coffee table across the lift door to trap him inside.

Neighbours and police were threatened with an air rifle

Paul Burton was jailed for seven years

"The defendants made the driver put his hand in the food, telling him it was cold," Mr Fleming said.

The takeaway's owner then arrived at the scene after receiving abusive calls from Turner as well as his distressed driver.

An item was thrown at the car, causing a dent in his roof.

Nathan Turner was sentenced to 20 months in jail

Mr Fleming said a neighbour went to complain about loud music and was faced with Burton wielding a 3ft (0.9m) black rifle.

Armed officers had surrounded the flats and the woman was safely evacuated.

Burton warned police: "I will shoot the first officer that walks through the door."

A police officer thought he would die when Paul Burton fired shots at his car windscreen.

He then fired at the windscreen of a manned police vehicle, leaving an officer fearing for his life.

The siege continued throughout the day with Turner throwing paint and plants from the balcony, damaging several cars.

Paint was thrown into the car park below the flat

He eventually gave himself up at 12:34 and Burton finally came out at 17:49 - 14 hours after the siege began.

Burton, of Bury Court, Church Lane pleaded guilty to attempting to cause grievous bodily harm and two charges of possessing a firearm without a certificate.

The court heard how he accepted his behaviour was "disgraceful and totally unacceptable", and his barrister said Burton had a history of mental health problems and substance abuse.

Turner, also of Bury Court, admitted affray and four charges of criminal damage.

William Durrands, mitigating, said Turner was bi-polar and at the time had been suffering a bereavement.

Judge David Farrell KC, sentencing, said: "It was an appalling and terrifying incident."

"This was an extremely disturbing and frightening siege in which a firearm was present."

Turner was due to be released from custody because of the time he had served on remand.