ARMED police were called when a lovesick man armed with a crossbow attacked a house in Evesham in the early hours.

Paul Kyte fired a bolt at the front door and also had an air pistol and hunting knives. An arsenal of weapons was found at his home.

Kyte, who had a scarf wrapped round his head, called to the officers: “Just shoot me.” He was eventually subdued with a taser.

Kyte, aged 23, of Henry Fowler Close, Evesham, was jailed for 15 months after pleading guilty at Worcester Crown Court to having a firearm with intent to cause fear or violence, possessing a prohibited weapon and an offensive weapon and having a bladed article.

His actions followed the rejection of his advances by another man, who told him he was moving to Cheltenham. Kyte became jealous, said Stephen Davies, prosecuting, and began making threats.

Police arrived in the early hours and a stand-off began. Mr Davies said the officers had Kyte in their sights but acted with extreme professionalism and were eventually able to restrain him.

Mr Davies said an array of weapons was found at Kyte’s home and he successfully applied for the confiscation of all but three knives, which had been presents.

Jonathan Barker, defending, said Kyte had fallen in love with another man but his feelings were not reciprocated.

He was in a desperate state and in emotional turmoil when he had gone to the house. On previous occasions, he had threatened to commit suicide and his actions were a cry for help.

Judge Christopher Plunkett accepted that Kyte had been emotionally disturbed by the rejection of his affections. Although his actions could be seen as attention-seeking, they could have attracted a threat to life and limb with the inevitable consequence that someone could have been killed.

Firearms officers were called upon to do a highly difficult and dangerous job and should not be distracted by the actions of someone like Kyte, and custody was inevitable.