A drunk man who brandished weapons and made chilling threats to slit the throats of police officers during a lengthy stand-off at his Lake District home has been jailed.
Remus Cutea, 36, initially dialled 101 and told a Cumbria Constabulary call handler he wanted help from a doctor to stop him killing someone at 9am on November 30.
Officers attended Cutea’s Claife Avenue home in Windermere and initially tried to engage with the ex-Romanian armed forces man through an upstairs window.
But after Cutea made threats to harm PCs with a sword, armed police responded and a cordon was set up.
He made threats to kill during a protracted stand-off of around 11 hours which involved trained crisis negotiators, claiming to have a sword and guns inside an address he also said was “booby-trapped”.
He produced knives and made threats to slit the throats of officers while waving a meat cleaver, Carlisle Crown Court heard.
“His level of aggression was described as ‘unreal’ with him foaming at the mouth and punching the walls,” said Tom Challinor, prosecuting.
Cutea spoke of losing lost his job and girlfriend, and being frightened of going to prison.
He was “exhausted and apologetic” when finally detained, speaking of an “alcohol-related blackout” and having little memory of the incident.
An illegal stun gun was found inside his home.
Cutea was also on bail at the time having threatened his bar manager employer in a torrent of texts during September, and spat on a bouncer.
Cutea later admitted affray, possessing a prohibited weapon, sending electronic communications with intent to cause distress and anxiety, and assault.
The court heard he had sunk to an all-time low amid mounting personal problems and been drinking to excess.
Judge Simon Medland jailed Cutea for 16 months, telling him: “This was a terribly serious episode which was wholly unacceptable.”
