A TEENAGER armed himself with four knives while threatening his mother and police during a 90-minute stand-off at his home in Lowestoft, a court heard this week.

A TEENAGER armed himself with four knives while threatening his mother and police during a 90-minute stand-off at his home in Lowestoft, a court heard this week.

A police firearms' unit and trained negotiator were sent to the house, in Spashett Road, before 18-year-old Jamie Rogers dropped the kitchen knives onto the ground from an upstairs porch.

A statement read out at Lowestoft Magistrates' Court on Monday revealed how police sent to the address on October 17 feared for the lives of officers and relatives of Rogers as he screamed abuse and warned them to stay away from him. Officers took the decision to pull out of the house along with Rogers' relatives and he barricaded the door.

Rogers, of Spashett Road, pleaded guilty to a charge of affray during a hearing last week, but had denied a further four charges of possessing knives in a public place. The Crown Prosecution Service withdrew these remaining charges and Rogers was remanded in custody to await sentencing for the affray.

Mitzy Bond, prosecuting, said police were called to the house at about 9pm after reports Rogers was trying to cut himself with a steak knife. He screamed at his mother and then warned police to keep away before cutting his left arm with a knife.

“He was upset, agitated and screaming and shouting towards officers and his family,” she added.

In a statement read to the court by Miss Bond, a police officer said: “He continued to say he would rush us if we tried anything and, if I was going to take another step forward, he was going to stab me. He came towards me and lunged towards my stomach. I was extremely concerned mine and my colleagues' lives were in danger. I have personally never felt like this before.”

Miss Bond said that Rogers threatened his mother, saying “she would be dead” and at one stage went outside the front of the house and pointed the four knives at police officers.

The stand-off came to an end at about 10.30pm after Rogers appeared on the porch and was persuaded to drop the knives. However, he punched his arm through a double-glazed window before his brother persuaded him to come down.

James Hartley, for Rogers, said his client was assessed for mental health problems five years ago, but had received no help.

Recently, he had become distressed after splitting up with his girlfriend, having an argument with his brother, losing his job after he was attacked and marking the anniversary of his grandmother's death.

Rogers said he did not threaten his family and just wanted to be left alone. He did not recall leaving the house until his arrest and insisted he did not intend to harm anyone.

Mr Hartley added that Rogers' family was supporting him and that his mother had not talked about being in fear for her safety.

Rogers will be sentenced at Ipswich Crown Court on a date yet to be announced.