A 39-YEAR-OLD man who barricaded himself inside his Sidcup flat for almost 24 hours has been given a prison sentence.

Daniel Arias, a Venezuelan national, told police he had a shotgun and petrol when they entered the building of his property in Lewis Road on January 20.

Woolwich Crown Court heard he lunged at territorial support officers with a four inch bladed knife taped to a metal broom handle.

Police had spent 20 hours at the address with the back up of three fire engines and an ambulance while neighbouring residents were evacuated.

Arias was today jailed for eight months but walked free as he had already served 123 days in custody and was eligible for immediate release.

He had previously pleaded guilty to charges of threats to kill, criminal damage and affray.

The trouble began when Arias texted his ex-girlfriend - the mother of his five-year-old daughter - and asked her to meet up.

When she told him she couldn't, Arias accused her of sleeping with someone else.

He texted her saying: "If you come home I will kill you both."

She told him she was going to the police and he sent her more threatening text messages.

The court heard Arias had done a similar thing in a previous relationship.

When police arrived at his address, he wouldn't answer the door and put his fingers up at them.

The landlord let officers into the building but his flat was barricaded.

Simon Burch, in mitigation, told the court Arias "was hoping to lose his life" that day.

Mr Burch said: "At no point would he have harmed them but the threats were serious ones."

Judge Philip Shorrock told Arias he was taking his age and good character into consideration.

He said: "The route of your problem is jealousy and you allowed it to get the better of you.

"You were acting in an extreme fashion.

"Your actions caused an enormous waste of public time and resources."

Mr Shorrock also imposed a restraining order preventing Arias from contacting his ex-girlfriend.