**Man Wearing Scuba Gear Sparks Hours-Long Stand-Off and Blaze in Pontypool Flat**
A residential community in Sebastopol, near Pontypool, was thrust into chaos last August when Michael Hockey, 55, barricaded himself in his home while dressed in full scuba diving equipment and carrying an oxygen tank. The extraordinary episode culminated in a fire that inflicted over £30,000 worth of damage, ultimately leading to a dramatic intervention by emergency services.
The ordeal began on 15 August 2023, after days of increasingly alarming behaviour from Hockey, who resided on Elm Grove. According to testimonies presented at Newport Crown Court, the defendant subjected his neighbours to a string of threats before escalating the situation on the day in question. Residents described how Hockey’s actions had left the whole building unnerved.
On the morning of the incident, Hockey’s conduct took a particularly menacing turn. Witnesses reported him banging furiously on a neighbour’s door, shouting aggressively, and using an axe to batter the entrance. The terrified neighbour—and others living nearby—immediately contacted police, fearing for their safety. Footage of Hockey’s agitation outside his flat was later shown in court as evidence of the severity of the confrontation.
When officers arrived at the scene, Hockey escalated the situation further by seizing a samurai sword and an axe, before locking himself inside his flat. He then proceeded to erect makeshift barricades within his home, prompting a siege that would last for several hours while police negotiators attempted to defuse the situation. By around 6pm, in a bizarre twist, Hockey was witnessed wearing a complete set of scuba diving gear—complete with an oxygen tank—and arming himself with an umbrella.
Events took a critical turn as Hockey deliberately set fire to flammable materials inside the property, unleashing flames and thick smoke that seriously impeded emergency responders. The resulting blaze caused approximately £31,000 in damage to the building and posed a grave risk to everyone inside.
When authorities finally managed to breach the barricades, they discovered Hockey seated in his bath, still refusing to surrender. Officers resorted to using a Taser to subdue and detain him safely. A subsequent search of the premises revealed a cache of weapons, including several knives, axes, a bow and arrow, and a spear. The inventory also included five grenade-like objects and 11 cannabis plants, highlighting the disturbing array of illegal items Hockey had amassed.
During court proceedings, Hockey entered guilty pleas to charges of arson, affray, criminal damage, and the cultivation of cannabis. His defence counsel, Alice Sykes, offered a glimpse into the deeper issues behind his behaviour, describing Hockey as a generally well-presented individual with no significant recent criminal history. Sykes informed the court that her client had been suffering from mental health issues, aggravated by prolonged cannabis use.
Presiding over the case, Judge Matthew Porter-Bryant acknowledged the immense risk and strain inflicted upon both residents and emergency services. The judge commented on the scale of the deployment required to manage the incident, noting, “The cost and use of significant resources was considerable at a time when such assets are already stretched.” He added that, rather remarkably, no loss of life or severe injuries resulted from the ordeal.
Ultimately, Judge Porter-Bryant handed Hockey a 30-month prison sentence for arson, the most serious of the offences. An additional nine-month sentence for affray was issued, to be served concurrently.
This extraordinary sequence of events has highlighted ongoing concerns within communities about mental health support and emergency preparedness. Residents and authorities alike have expressed relief that, despite the dramatic nature of the siege and its aftermath, a potentially greater tragedy was averted.