A YORK man jailed for forcing his way into an RSPCA sanctuary with a gun and a sword to try and get back his pet could face further court action for alleged mistreatment of animals.

Paul Richard Lovie, 47, of Rose Street, off Haxby Road, was today starting a 15-month prison sentence, after he admitted threatening a man at the Landing Lane animal home.

York Crown Court heard how he had hoped to "rescue" his four-year-old Jack Russell terrier, Rosie, after she was seized by an RSPCA inspector.

A York vet reported him to the charity after he asked about the cost of putting her down, the court was told.

He told the vet he would do it himself with a pickaxe handle.

Heather Holmes, of the RSPCA, today said staff had compiled a dossier of evidence against Lovie and were considering whether to bring a case against him for alleged animal cruelty.

Lovie could be fined and banned from owning animals if such a case was successful. Although his pet dog died in RSPCA care earlier this month, his wife, Judith, still owns a cat, Puss.

Mrs Holmes said: "We are considering whether to take further action. As such it would be inappropriate to comment further."

York Crown Court heard yesterday how the boyfriend of a RSPCA worker who lived on the site went to investigate a break-in when he saw a door had been smashed.

He discovered Lovie standing in a darkened room holding a lit cigarette lighter and a gun, the floor apparently covered in petrol.

Armed police were called to the scene on February 29, and at 8.15pm, after a tense two-hour siege, Lovie gave himself up.

Judge Paul Hoffman said: "There are too many incidents these days of people taking firearms out with them. Then they complain that the police shoot them. You are a lucky man to be standing in this dock."

The prosecution said Lovie, who had been drinking, hoped to "bluff" the RSPCA into releasing his dog. During the stand-off, he discharged a fire extinguisher and told police he had accelerants.

Catherine Silverton, mitigating, said these were "extremely bizarre circumstances".

She added: "To say this was an out-of-character offence is an understatement of the highest order."

She said her client, a Buddhist who remarried his ex-wife two weeks ago, lost his job as a BT engineer in February and had fallen into debt.

She said Lovie, who worked at the York Arms pub in High Petergate, had a "reliance on alcohol".

Lovie admitted possessing a firearm with intent to cause fear of violence, possessing an offensive weapon and criminal damage on February 29.

Updated: 09:48 Thursday, May 27, 2004