A man has been jailed for two years for threatening to kill himself and a police officer by lighting a cigarette in a gas-filled bungalow.

A court heard Alan Scott's threats were a "cry for help" following the death of his grandmother and were triggered by an argument with his partner.

Scott, 40, of Manor Close, Whitehawk, Brighton, admitted threatening to destroy or damage property knowing it was likely to endanger another's life.

Police and firefighters rushed to Scott's house shortly after 1.50pm on May 6 last year after receiving a call from his friend Margaret Rimmel, who feared for his safety.

She said he had barricaded himself in his house, turned on the gas and was threatening to light it, Wayne Cranston-Morris, prosecuting, told Hove magistrates.

Mr Cranston-Morris said: "On arrival, there was a smell of gas from the bungalow."

He said Scott swore at police and told them: "I'll blow you up. Leave me alone. I've got a light."

The court heard that Sergeant Glen Taylor reported that he could smell gas and, after persuading Scott to let him in the house, found the defendant with a cigarette in his mouth.

He also found all the gas burners on the kitchen stove turned on.

Mr Cranston Morris said: "The sergeant removed the cigarette from the defendant, threw it out of the kitchen window and turned all the gas burners off."

Mr Cranston-Morris said Scott also told police he had powdered up some glass and swallowed it in a bid to kill himself.

Jeffrey Lamb, defending, said Scott had had an argument with his partner of 12 years, Stephen Cutts, who lived with him at the bungalow.

He said: "He realistically has no recollection of what he said or may not have said to the police officers at that time."