AN ANGRY domestic abuser barricaded himself in a kitchen after threatening police officers with knives while high on drugs.

Michael Hargreaves lunged at PC Holly Gillespie and PC Alexandra Hagger after they responded to a call in Brighton. The incident on May 8 left them both in fear for their lives.

Neighbours were worried about the incident at a flat in Elmore Road, Hanover.

The PCs found Hargreaves’ former partner crying inside and tried to keep the men apart. The 38-year-old, who has indulged in gay “chem sex” parties, had assaulted the man weeks earlier.

Hargreaves was “out of control” when he attacked the police. He claimed had been spiked with the drug GHB. He became difficult with the officers and grabbed a knife.

Body-worn footage showed bare-chested Hargreaves shouting as the officers sprayed him and escaped the flat with the other man.

Hargreaves was seen at the top of the stairs shouting “I’m on” in a challenge to the police.

Back-up arrived to find he had barricaded himself in the kitchen. He had two knives and was threatening to harm himself. PC Stephen Walker was responsible for coaxing him out.

At Lewes Crown Court the bravery of the officers was recognised by Judge Mark Van Der Zwart.

Hargreaves admitted assaulting two emergency workers and affray and was jailed for 23 months.

In a statement PC Gillespie said: “In three years of policing I have never felt as fearful than I have at that moment.”

She said Hargreaves was much bigger than both officers and the other man and she feared being stabbed.

Rebecca Upton, prosecuting, said Hargreaves had 25 previous convictions for 62 offences.

These included two domestic violence attacks on a former partner in Brighton in 2013 and 2014.

Hargreaves pinned his ex-down by the throat, choking him, and on one occasion held a knife to the man’s head and on another threatened him with a meat cleaver.

Sarah Thorne, defending, said Hargreaves, of Downs Street, Bridport, Dorset, was “deeply ashamed” and sorry about how he caused distress to the officers.

He had smoked cannabis, and had “involuntarily” taken GHB, a class C drug used by some to experience highs while having sex.

The judge said Hargreaves has been diagnosed with emotionally unstable personality disorder and was prone to “uncontrolled outbursts”.

Hargreaves had carried out the affray when he was on bail for assaulting his partner at the flat, for which he received an eight-week sentence in June.

The judge said: “You have a long history of drug use and there is an emerging pattern of violence with weapons.

“You seem to have little insight into your offending and have spoken of yourself as a victim. You are considered a high risk of causing someone serious harm.”