Father and son in Taser siege

A knife-wielding father and son threatened to attack police and to stab themselves during a Taser-gun siege.
Pictured is Derby Crown Court.Pictured is Derby Crown Court.
Pictured is Derby Crown Court.

Chesterfield magistrates’ court heard how Gary Parsons, 45, and his son Matthew Parsons, 20, were both armed with knives during the incident at Gary Parsons’ Chesterfield home as they were surrounded by police.

Prosecuting solicitor Becky Allsop said: “Gary Parsons phoned police at 4.10am to say Matthew had mental health issues and had been out fighting and wanted to carry on. Both seemed agitated and under the influence of intoxicants and appeared in the doorway carrying six or seven-inch long knives and said the officers should leave.”

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Mrs Allsop added that both threatened to kill themselves unless police left and they held the knives to their bodies.

They also threatened a neighbour, according to Mrs Allsop, and threatened police and Gary Parsons threatened to stab officers unless they left.

Police, who were armed with Tasers, came to the property and the father and son were arrested after they had calmed down.

Gary Parsons, of Sunningdale Park, New Tupton, said he has mental health issues and Matthew Parsons, of Spital Green, Bolsover, told police he is on medication.

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Both pleaded guilty to affray and to possessing a knife in public after the incident on April 21.

Defence solicitor Felicity Coats said their behaviour had been out of character. Both were committed for sentencing at Derby Crown Court on May 13.