Man given 11-year extended sentence after 12-hour stand-off in Bognor

A man who threatened to set fire to a gas cylinder during a twelve-hour stand-off in Bognor has been jailed for eleven years.

Police were called to Arun Road in September 2024, after twenty-nine year old Reece Hodges climbed onto a roof and threatened to ignite gas canisters.

Officers evacuated nearby homes and managed to safely arrest him before anyone was hurt.

Hodges was found guilty of attempted arson and public nuisance at Lewes Crown Court on the 23rd of January, where he was jailed for six years. The court also imposed an extended sentence for dangerousness, this added a further five years, making a total of eleven years in jail.

Hodges must serve two thirds of the sentence before he can be considered for parole.

Detective Sergeant Emma Fields said: “This incident highlights the dangers police officers face on a daily basis, often being exposed to a high risk of serious harm in order to keep the public safe."

"It caused a large amount of distress and disruption to nearby residents in the middle of the night."

“Officers originally attended an address to arrest Hodges who was wanted on recall to prison to serve a sentence for stalking."

“But he climbed onto the roof and caused hours of disruption."

“Our priority was to ensure people’s safety, including for Hodges, our officers, and for the public who he had put at high risk of harm."

“I would like to thank residents for their patience while we dealt with the incident, and thank colleagues from the fire service and ambulance service who were also at the scene to assist us with a very complex situation."

“Thankfully no one was harmed by Hodges’ recklessness, and a dangerous offender is now serving a significant custodial sentence.”