A MAN who sparked 10-hour armed stand-off has been jailed for 12 months.

Wayne Kavanagh admitted to making a bomb hoax during the major incident in Sherwood, Way, Southend on Monday, September 30.

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Siege - Kavanagh at the scene in Sherwood, Way, Southend

The 28-year-old appeared at Basildon Crown Court this morning for sentence.

He appeared in front of Judge John Lodge via video link to read a letter to beg him not to put him in jail. 

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In the letter, he apologised to all of the emergency services and to the families who were evacuated during the incident. 

He said he has no memory of the incident and told how it was the anniversary of his brother’s death and he had suffered a “meltdown” and turned to drink and drugs for the day.

But Judge Lodge sent him to jail for a year. 

This is the second time Kavanagh has been involved in a stand off with police, having been arrested in the same road on November 10, 2012 after negotiations with firearm officers.

Senior Investigating Officer Det Insp Dave Richards said: “Kavanagh’s actions were cowardly and dangerous.

"We evacuated a large number of flats as a result of his threats and our officers spent the evening ensuring the safety of the other people inside the flat, one of whom was a toddler, who he was threatening to hurt.

"I’m glad that this disruption will see Kavanagh sent to prison, and hope this will serve as a warning to anyone else who is tempted to waste the resources of the emergency services in such a callous way.”    

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