A MAN who broke into the grounds of Nationwide’s Swindon headquarters, threatened a security guard with a glass bottle and swung a wooden plank at a police officer has been given a 12-week suspended jail term.

Andrew Hambidge, 33, of Croft Road, was before Swindon magistrates on Friday of one count of using threatening language and behaviour to cause alarm, and another of causing fear of violence.

The two charges related to incidents at Nationwide House on Pipers Way and on Victoria Road on Wednesday afternoon.

The defendant, who pleaded guilty to both charges, came to the attention of security staff at Nationwide House at around 4.25pm, after climbing over the surrounding fence and gaining access to a staff-only area.

When approached by a guard to ask why he was there, Hambidge – who is a user of amphetamines – was unable to answer and was detained by two members of security staff.

He then made a phone call, claiming that he had been kidnapped, before pulling out a glass bottle and threatening the guards.

For the safety of staff at the site, the decision was made to allow him to leave. He smashed the glass bottle as he went.

Police were called to the scene but received reports that the defendant was heading in the direction of Old Town.

Hambidge was found on Victoria Road by two police officers. When they approached him, he told them that “they [the security guards] held a gun to my head”.

He also told the officers: “You’re not police – **** off.”

The police officers followed Hambidge down towards Regent Circus, before he turned and swung the plank of wood chest-height at one of the officers.

Following a couple more attempts to hit the officers, the police brought the situation under control.

At a police station interview, Hambidge admitted having the glass bottle, and being aware that the man he had swung at was a police officer. He offered no defence for his actions.

In court, the magistrates heard that Hambidge’s history of struggles with mental health issues, including a recent detention under the mental health act.

He was also on police bail for several months this earlier, while a number of serious allegations against him – which were later found to false – were investigated.

The strain of this investigation were said to have added to Hambidge’s use of amphetamines.

Hambidge was “crying out for help”, in particular in relation to his drug use, the magistrates were told.

Sentencing, the chairman of the bench told a visibly relieved Hambidge that he was “not going to jail today”.

He was given a 12-week sentence, suspended for 24 months, in addition to costs of £85 and a victim surcharge of £115.