Mae Angel Blair was sentenced at Dalby District Court following a 24hr-long standoff with police

A man who was involved in a days-long standoff with police that arose from a welfare check has claimed he believed the Western Downs officers had “set him up”. See the full story.

Man sentenced at Dalby District Court on July 14 for days-long siege. Picture: file photo

What started off as a welfare check conducted by government officers turned into a days-long siege between a man and police officers, with the man telling court he believed he was set up by authorities.

Crown prosecutor Cameron Wilkins told Dalby District Court on July 14 that police were called to Mae Angel Blair’s Tara home by government officers who were conducting a welfare check.

Mr Wilkins said just after noon on August 22 last year, five police officers and two government officers arrived at the residence when the 35-year-old man told them that he had Covid-19 and was armed with a knife.

Police began negotiating with the man who was standing at the front of his house.

“He told police they should’ve called before arriving,” Mr Wilkins said.

“The stand off continued, he made various threatening comments towards police and told the police what he would do with the knife if they came any closer.

“He said (to police) that he was in control and ‘not them’.

“Matters escalated when police drew their tasers, he ran inside the home, locking himself inside.”

A police Special Emergency Response Team was called to the property where the man hid inside the home until the following morning when Blair surrendered to police.

Defence barrister Frank Martin said his client, who appeared in court via video link, believed he was set up by police.

“He believed he had an agreement with police that they would tell him when they were coming, he had no notice and then reacted the way he did,” Mr Martin said.

He told the court that the police were aware of the man’s diagnosed PTSD and anxiety.

The man who had been remanded in custody since his arrest which totalled 325 days behind bars was also found to be in possession of marijuana, marijuana seeds, and a bong.

Blair pleaded guilty to two counts of obstructing a police officer, two counts of possessing dangerous drugs and one count of possessing drug utensils.

He was sentenced to 325 days jail, with Judge Alexander Horneman-Wren declaring the 325 days in pre-sentence custody as time served and ordered he be released on immediate parole.

He was convicted and not further punished on the three drug-related offences.