Armed police hurl stun grenades and fire Tasers as they free four from house siege in dramatic bodycam footage - as hostage-taker is jailed for 27 months
- Police threw stun grenades and fired Tasers to dramatically free four hostages
- Bodycam footage shows officers using chainsaws to cut through a door
- They then charged, firing Tasers to subdue Shane Thomas, 23, and his father
- Defence lawyer Jon Tarrant said father-to-be Thomas had been in a 'haze'
- Mr Tarrant told the court: '2020 was not perhaps one of his best years'
Police charged through the doors firing Tasers to subdue hostage-taker Shane Thomas (pictured), 23, and his father
Armed police threw stun grenades and fired Tasers to free four young captives taken in a siege in dramatic bodycam footage - as the hostage-taker is jailed for 27 months.
Officers used chainsaws to cut their way through a door before throwing stun grenades into a room at the house in Fishguard, Pembrokeshire, in November last year.
Police then charged through the doors firing Tasers to subdue hostage-taker Shane Thomas, 23, and his father.
Thomas was wanted by police and had gone on the run after attacking two customers in a pub, Swansea Crown Court heard.
He was later tracked to his father's home - and barricaded himself inside with four teenagers.
One of the youths raised the alarm by messaging a friend on Snapchat saying he was being 'held against his will and frightened'.
A court heard Thomas was in an 'alcohol and drug haze' when he blocked the front door with a fridge, settee, and cooker.
Thomas said he had drunk 15 cans of lager and erected barricades to protect himself because he was 'scared' of police, WalesOnline reports.
Prosecutor Dean Pulling said that when officers arrived Thomas shouted threats through the door and a 'siege' developed.
After 90 minutes police smashed their way into through the front door and then cut their way into the bedroom using a chain saw.
Mr Pulling said the grenades were thrown as 'distraction devices' before Thomas was Tasered, sprayed with pepper spray and restrained.
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Swansea Crown Court heard both Thomas and his father were arrested at the house in Fishguard, Pembrokeshire.
Prosecutor Dean Pulling said that when officers arrived Thomas shouted threats through the door and a 'siege' developed
After 90 minutes police smashed their way into through the front door and then cut their way into the bedroom using a chain saw
Mr Pulling said the siege had cost police around £31,000 because it involved 30 officers and a force helicopter.
Thomas, of Fishguard, later admitted two counts of actual bodily harm, obstructing police, malicious communications, and a public order offence.
Jon Tarrant, defending, said dad-to-be Thomas had been in a 'alcohol and drug haze' after being kicked out of home last year but now wanted to grow up.
He added: '2020 was not perhaps one of his best years'.
Judge, Recorder John Philpotts, told Thomas he was 'hell bent on trouble' and jailed him for 27 months.
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