Stand-off with armed pensioner ends peacefully after 40 hours

Police have charged a Sussex man following a 40-hour stand-off in Pagham.

Terry Bridger, 72, of Harbour Road, Pagham, has been charged with threats to kill, possession of a firearm with intent to cause fear of violence, common assault and two counts of threatening to damage property.

Armed police had surrounded the property in Harbour Road at around 4.10pm, on Sunday 28th August, after receiving reports the pensioner had a gun and was using threatening behaviour. A woman, known to the man, left the house safely after police arrival.

The stand-off ended safely on Tuesday morning.

Bridger has been remanded in custody and will appear before Portsmouth Crown Court on Friday 30th September.

Sussex Police has thanked people in Pagham for their patience and understanding during a 40-hour stand-off which caused 'considerable disruption' for local people.

A 72-year-old man has been arrested after the lengthy operation, which ended peacefully this morning.

It began at a house on Harbour Road just after 4pm on Sunday.

Specially-trained officers negotiated with the pensioner, before he walked out of the house this morning.

Watch Emma Wilkinson's report:

A 40-hour stand off involving a 72-year-old man old man refusing to leave his house in Pagham, near Bognor Regis, ended safely just after 8.45am.

Armed police surrounded the property in Harbour Road, after receiving reports at around 4.10pm on Sunday that the pensioner had a gun and was using threatening behaviour.

Ambulance and fire services were called forward on Tuesday morning as the man threatened to set fire to the house, but at 8.42am he told police that he was leaving the property and a few minutes later, he left, closing the door behind him.

He was arrested on suspicion of threats to kill and possession of a firearm with intent to endanger life.

Police have spent a second night negotiating with a 72-year-old man who remains inside a house in Harbour Road, Pagham.

Emergency services were first called to the property at around 4.10pm on Sunday to a report of threatening behaviour. A woman known to the man was also in the house at the time, but she left shortly after police arrival and is safe and well.

The man, who is on his own and believed to have a gun, continues to communicate with trained police negotiators.

Chief Superintendent Neil Honnor said: "I appreciate this must be a little disconcerting and frustrating for local residents having a continued large police presence outside their homes.

"The safety of the local community is paramount and we are doing all we can to resolve this ongoing incident in a controlled way.

"The road closure and cordons remain in place but residents are still free to come and go as and when they need to with police support."

Police are locked in a stand off with an armed pensioner in West Sussex - in a siege which began more than 26 hours ago.

Officers were first called to the property on Harbour Road in Pagham yesterday afternoon after reports of threatening behaviour.

A woman, known to the 72 year old man, left the house safely. Residents on the road have been told to stay inside.

Local shop owners have been telling Meridian that Pagham is still open for business:

Maria Griggs owns the Pagham Beach Cafe hand told us the police cordon is confined to Harbour Road

Police remain in a stand-off in West Sussex with a 72-year old man who is believed to have a gun.

Officers were called to a house in Harbour Road, Pagham at around 4.10pm on Sunday to a report of threatening behaviour.

A woman known to the man was also in the house, but she left shortly after police arrival and is safe and well.

The 72-year-old man remains in the property alone.

A police cordon is still in place and the road remains closed.

Trained negotiators are in contact with the suspect.

There are no reports of any injuries.

Firearms officers have been negotiating overnight with a armed man at a house in Pagham in Sussex.

Police were called to reports a 72-year-old man was using threatening behaviour and had a gun.

A woman known to the man left the house safely. A police cordon is currently in place.

The stand- off at Pagham, near Bognor Regis, West Sussex started at around 4pm this afternoon. Local people have told ITV Meridian that they have been advised to stay in their homes until they have resolved the situation, It's believed the man, aged 72, in the property is on his own. Early reports from eye-witnesses to the ITV Meridian newsroom suggested a woman had also been in the house and was released - this has not been officially confirmed yet.