Man jailed over 34-hour city centre siege

A man who threatened to blow up a block of flats in Sheffield city centre leading to a police siege lasting about 34 hours has been jailed for seven years.

On 10 February last year, Yaqub Younis, 49, falsely told residents and armed police he had guns and explosives in his flat and would open fire from his balcony at The Gateway on Broad Street.

Following a trial at Sheffield Crown Court which ended in June, he was found guilty of communicating false information with intent, intentionally or recklessly causing a public nuisance, affray and criminal damage to property.

Sentencing him, the Recorder of Sheffield, Judge Jeremy Richardson KC, told Younis his actions had "caused incalculable harm".

The bomb hoax threat, which Younis made while wanted on recall to prison, triggered an evacuation of about 100 people and brought the city centre to a standstill for nearly 34 hours.

Police attended the building and put a cordon in place, but Younis refused to cooperate and remained in his flat for the entirety of the siege.

During the siege, Younis threw a TV and various household items, some of which were on fire, off his balcony, trashed the interior of his flat and shouted that he had "loads of guns" and up to 20kg of explosives.

Jurors heard his behaviour had been "erratic" and he had requested to speak to a member of parliament, as well as asking for a banana and a mobile phone.

He also claimed that MI5 and the National Crime Agency had been plotting to kill him and that he had believed his life was in danger.

At a sentencing hearing on Thursday, Judge Richardson told him he had used the "absurd and unwarranted fixation" of the conspiracy as a cover for his criminal conduct, "when the truth was you were on the run from the authorities".

"At the time you were in breach of licence conditions and were wanted by the police and prison authorities," he said.

"You should have been in prison. That is a serious aggravating feature in this case."

Judge Richardson told Younis there was "not a shred of evidence" of state-sponsored conspiracy.

"The whole area was evacuated and a siege commenced. You asserted it was set up to assassinate you…That was complete and utter nonsense," he said.

"The jury saw through your avalanche of falsehoods. This was not a security service vendetta, nor were the police officers anyone but who they said they were. Police officers told you repeatedly who they were."

Meanwhile, the judge also explained to him the extent of the effect his actions had had on Sheffield.

During the incident, Sheffield Parkway, between Park Square roundabout and Derek Dooley Way, was closed in both directions and trams were halted.

Judge Richardson told him: "The tram network was severely affected, which had immense impact on the citizens of this city.

"Schools and hospitals were affected. Massive extra expenses were incurred.

"The total cost on the impact on the authorities/public purse was £195,000."

Although Younis' claims of having explosives and firearms were untrue, he was found to be in possession of drugs and a number of weapons including a meat cleaver, with which he threatened police, knives and a police baton.

During the sentencing hearing, Younis' defence barrister Caroline Haughey KC said her client was "deeply apologetic for the disruption he caused".

"His mother is in extremely poor health. He is rebuilding bridges with his family," she explained.

"He is using his time in custody as an opportunity for reflection. He's distanced himself from his previous criminal activities.

"Mr Younis made an egregious error for which he is sorry."

However, Judge Richardson described Younis' offences as an "exceptionally serious incident", and told him there was "a requirement to punish you for what you did".

Younis was sentenced to five years for communicating false information with intent; seven years for causing a public nuisance; two years for affray; and 18 months for causing criminal damage - with all sentences to run concurrently.

Listen to highlights from South Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North