ARMED MAN HELD WIFE HOSTAGE OVER SPLIT
A jilted husband held his wife hostage for three hours with a loaded shotgun because he refused to accept their relationship was over.Shaun Heslop, 35, kidnapped his wife in front of police officers and sparked a New Year's Day armed siege when she told him their marriage was over.
Heslop, a welder, had been married to his wife, Alison, for ten years and had two children together when their relationship collapsed.
Problems began when Heslop was working as a part-time doorman at a club in Hexham, Northumberland, and his wife discovered he was having an affair.
But he refused to accept their marriage was over and, after several confrontations, he snapped on New Year's Eve.
Heslop went to his wife's home in Coronation Terrace, New Kyo, near Stanley, County Durham, despite previous arrests for harassing her.
He burst into the back door armed with a shotgun as she fled.
He chased her, and before police could reach her, he grabbed her in a headlock and threatened to shoot her if officers approached.
Heslop of Lily Gardens, Dipton, County Durham, pleaded guilty to false imprisonment, kidnapping, threats to kill, and three firearms offences and was jailed for five years.
