A prank involving a "mock hostage" and threats to "blow up" a block of flats, resulted in a seven-hour siege with armed police.
Brothers Daniel and Dillon Smith barricaded themselves inside a first-floor flat, giving the impression a kidnapping was taking place, Leicester Crown Court was told.
It led to a massive emergency service response costing thousands of pounds.
At one stage, Daniel Smith (25) claimed to be holding six hostages at a flat in Tuckers Road, Loughborough, and threatened: "I'm going to kill them."
Neil Bannister, prosecuting, said a seemingly distressed man appeared with the brothers on the flat's balcony.
He said: "He had some covering over his head, a bag or balaclava, and white masking tape around his mouth. However, it appeared to be a mock hostage, who could be heard making over-exaggerated calls for help and then laughing."
Daniel Smith made repeated demands for fast food to be delivered and for a police negotiator.
The incident happened on February 3, when police received a report of "a number of men fighting" in Tuckers Road at 3.15pm.
They attended to discover a number of men were inside a nearby flat. "They were under a duty to check the safety of those individuals," said Mr Bannister.
Dillon Smith (34) frustrated the inquiry by refusing to open the door, initially making excuses the flat owner was out and then barricading the door. At 3.50pm, the defendants ran on to the balcony aggressively shouting abuse and threats at officers.
Daniel Smith told police sergeant Carl Mee: "I'm going to kill you and that police dog."
He also made a reference to the gas being on and yelled: "I'll blow the whole block of flats up."
Mr Bannister said: "A number of demands were made, which the police didn't take entirely seriously, but it tied up resources trying to get occupants out."
The scene was attended by seven armed officers, 17 constables, three sergeants, three negotiators, a dog handler, an ambulance and a fire appliance. At 5.30pm four occupants from the flat climbed down from a balcony and were detained.
It was not said in court if they were charged with anything.
The Smith brothers remained inside the flat, making further demands until 10.30pm when they gave themselves up.
The brothers, both of Howe Road, Loughborough, admitted wasting police time and were each jailed for four months. Daniel Smith also admitted making threats to kill and breaching an 18-week suspended jail sentence, which was activated to run consecutively.
Dillon Smith pleaded guilty to threatening behaviour.
Judge Michael Pert QC said: "Your behaviour was disgraceful and the whole stand-off wasted valuable community resources."
Elizabeth Power, mitigating, said: "The police weren't to know it was a prank. It was stupid and it was a threat the police had to take seriously. He's had time to reflect and cool his heels in custody."
Defence counsel Paul Prior said that Dillon Smith was battling an alcohol problem and depression at the time.
