Lowestoft man in police stand-off

A LOWESTOFT man threw household items out of the windows of his home and swore in front of a neighbour during an hour long stand-off with police, a court heard.

A LOWESTOFT man threw household items out of the windows of his home and swore in front of a neighbour during an hour long stand-off with police, a court heard.

Peter Montague, 47, pleaded guilty to affray, assaulting a police officer and criminal damage at Lowestoft magistrates court yesterday (Tuesday).

Colette Griffiths, prosecuting, told the court that police were called to Blyford Road in Lowestoft at about 5.30pm on October 21 last year to reports of a disturbance in a flat.

When they arrived, they could hear items being smashed inside, loud swearing and saw objects being thrown out of windows by Montague, now of The Nordalls in Kessingland.

Mrs Griffiths said: 'He continued to throw objects from the flat and caused damage…there was [the defendant's] blood splattered over all the walls.

'The episode went on for an hour with threats being made and objects being thrown from the windows and such like.'

She said that Montague swore in front of an elderly neighbour and caused �285 damage to the property, which was owned by Waveney District Council.

She said that he was then arrested and while at Lowestoft police station, Montague was abusive to the police officers and flicked blood from one of his cuts at one of them.

Lucy Brakewell, for Montague, said that her client has been diagnosed schizophrenic and that at the time of the incident, he had not been prescribed the correct balance of medication.

She said: 'He was on particular medication which clearly was not suiting him. Things have improved significantly since then. He very much regrets the incident, it was caused by his schizophrenia.'

The hearing was adjourned for full reports to be prepared before sentencing.

Montague was granted unconditional bail and will return to Lowestoft magistrates court on March 1.