A MAN whose life fell apart after he sparked a dramatic armed police siege with a toy weapon said today: "Throw away your guns."

David Roustoby, 29, said he had lost his girlfriend, home and job in the aftermath of the five-hour stand off in Heslington, York, two months ago. This week the former University of York campus worker learned that the police would not be taking any further action against him after his arrest.

But despite the fact he broke no laws by owning the replica Walther PPK German pistol - a gun made famous by James Bond - he said others should know how it shattered his family and friends. "I lost my partner, my job and my home because of it," he said.

"For the police to come back and say it's perfectly legal now is too late. The damage has been done.

"My advice to people who have these guns is just to get rid of them."

"It doesn't matter what your reasons are for having them.

"The reason I bought one was that I wanted to protect myself with something I knew couldn't hurt anyone - but the irony is that I ended up hurting myself."

Armed police surrounded the home in Quant Mews, off Windmill Lane, that he shared with his girlfriend on November 2 after one of her two teenage children saw the gun.

In an extraordinary phone call to the Evening Press during the siege he told a reporter that nine people were pointing guns at him and he would not give himself up until his solicitor arrived.

York's most senior police officer, Chief Superintendent Tim Madgwick, who ran the successful police operation, later condemned replica firearms and called for a ban to prevent a tragedy.

Welcoming Mr Roustoby's comments, Tony Lidgate, North Yorkshire Police spokesman, said today that every police officer fears that one day a replica gun will cause a tragic death.

He said that although firearms officers are highly trained and operate under strict procedures, they can be called on to make life or death decisions in seconds.

"This is a message that can not be repeated too many times. Almost every week in this county, armed officers are called to an incident like this.

"Thankfully it has always turned out to be a replica, but it's not just a waste of our time, it's a waste of public money.

"We appeal to parents in particular to think and advise their children accordingly.

"Adults who have these replica guns, should ask themselves: 'Do I really need the trouble that could come from this?' "

Mr Roustoby said that the police still hold his gun, which he bought for £45, but he is not interested in getting back.

Updated: 10:58 Saturday, January 08, 2005