A 42-year-old man who held his girlfriend and her teenage daughter at knifepoint, sparking an armed siege, has been jailed for two years.

Labourer David Shenstone was just seconds away from being shot by police during the six-hour incident in December last year.

Maidstone Crown Court heard that he used both Susan Connolly and her daughter Lucy, 15, as human shields when he shouted abuse at armed officers from a window at the maisonette in Timber Bank, Chatham.

Peter Gower, prosecuting, said they didn’t fire only because they could not get a clear shot.

“One later described it as the most tense and threatening (incident) he had attended and the closest he had come to discharging his firearm,” added Mr Gower.

Shenstone, of Charlotte Close, Chatham, and Mrs Connolly, 46, had known each other for about eight years and lived together for three. However, they broke up in May after Shenstone became paranoid and possessive, and then was convicted of assaulting Mrs Connolly.

The pair continued to see other and on the day of the siege had been shopping together.

The court heard trouble flared when Shenstone repeatedly telephoned Mrs Connolly that evening but she refused to visit his home.

Having gone to bed, she woke at 1.30am to discover Shenstone banging on her door.

Mrs Connolly dialled 999 and then saw Shenstone in her bedroom, ranting and raving. He then armed himself with two knives from Mrs Connolly’s kitchen.

“The police arrived and Shenstone pushed Mrs Connolly towards the window holding both knives in one hand against her throat, telling the police to back off,” said Mr Gower.

“Mrs Connolly was absolutely terrified and believed he was going to cut her throat.”

Shenstone then woke Lucy and also dragged her to the window. At one point he made both lie on the floor and asked whether they had any petrol. He also kicked and slapped Mrs Connolly.

The siege, which involved at least 30 officers, ended when Mrs Connolly gave Shenstone two sleeping pills and the police invited him out for a cup of tea.

The court heard that Shenstone, who admitted two charges of false imprisonment, had drank two bottles of champagne and two of wine that evening and could not recall any of the night’s events.

Louise Oakley, defending, said he had an over-sensitive personality, and had tried to kill himself five times.

Jailing him, Judge Michael Lawson QC said the use of knives, the length of the ordeal and the presence of the teenage girl were all aggravating features. “That was disgraceful behaviour,” he added.