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.

Newcastle Crown Court heard how 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 with his wife, he finally snapped on New Years Eve, last year.

Stephen Duffield, prosecuting, told the court how Heslop went to his wife's home in Coronation Terrace, New Kyo, near Stanley, County Durham, despite previous arrests for harassing his wife.

He burst into the back door armed with a shotgun as his wife fled out of the front door in terror.

Chased by Heslop, she was met by two women police officers - but, before they could reach her, he grabbed her in a headlock and threatened to shoot her if the two officers came near.

Eric Elliott, defending said: "The defendant is a man of good character who finds himself in the dock as a result of incidents born from domestic strife.

"At the time he was distraught over the break down of his marriage. He was unable to think with clarity of mind. The incident escalated and he knows he brought this on himself. He now accepts his marriage is well and truly over."

Heslop, of Lily Gardens, Dipton, County Durham pleaded guilty to false imprisonment, kidnapping, threats to kill, and three firearms offences.

He was jailed for five years.