A Matlock man who is accused of sparking a nine-hour siege by barricading himself into his house was allegedly the victim of a hate campaign amid rumours he was a paedophile.
Derby Crown Court was told how Christopher Judd's home at Overdale in Matlock was repeatedly vandalised by yobs who, shortly before the stand-off, had smashed his front door.
Esther Harrison, prosecuting, said that, only hours later, Judd barrica
ded himself in after a separate incident in which he allegedly assaulted a neighbour with a screwdriver.
Judd denies affray and threatening to destroy or damage his home in a way that would endanger lives.
Miss Harrison said the siege began at 3am on July 7 last year in Overdale, when police arrived to arrest Judd.
She added that the stand-off lasted nearly nine hours and involved 40 police officers, fire crews and gas engineers.
Judd allegedly used wooden ladders and a roll of carpet to prevent officers from getting inside.
Pc Gemma Peace said she saw Judd pour petrol around the front door and then, with a lit cigarette in his mouth, brandish a lighter.
A propane cannister and a car battery were also allegedly placed by the front door.
However, Dominic Shelley, defending, questioned the reliability of Pc Peace's statement when it emerged she had not made it until 20 days after the incident.
Judd's friend, Karen Henson, said that he felt "persecuted" by the youths and "frustrated" at the lack of police support.
She said Judd was picked on by others on the estate because of his long hair and the way he dressed.
He was also targeted after being questioned in relation to reports of a man trying to entice children back to his home with sweets. The trial continues.
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