Man in siege on roof of primary is jailed

A man who hurled tiles at police in a 90 minute siege after being caught trying to steal lead from the roof of a West Midland primary school has been jailed for 16 months.

The barrage thrown by Gavin Sadler narrowly missed two officers who had climbed up to try to talk him down, Wolverhampton Crown Court heard yesterday.

It also damaged two parked police vehicles as the force helicopter hovered over Langley Primary School in Titford Road, Oldbury, said prosecutor Iain Willis. He said:

"The defendant had been seen stripping roofing materials. A substantial amount of damage had been done to the roof but the defendant refused to engage with police.

Two constables were within four metres of Sadler and were sitting ducks when he started throwing tiles at them. They came close to being hit."

Sadler, aged 36, then smashed windows at the school and climbed inside where he was finally found hiding in a cupboard, the court was told. Miss Blondelle Thompson, defending, said: "He does not dispute any of the facts because he cannot remember what happened."

Sadler from Lion Farm, Oldbury, had taken a cocktail of drugs and drink to fight depression over the fact that November 18 was the anniversary of the death of a close relative, the court heard.

He admitted affray, attempted theft and criminal damage to the two parked police cars and was jailed by Judge Robin Onions. But the judge criticised the prosecution for not providing a proper figure for the amount of damage caused to the roof.

The judge was told that the school caretaker had estimated the bill would be between £8,000 and £10,000 but no official total was given to the court.

Judge Onions said this meant he was forced to assume it was less than £5,000 and added: "This could materially affect the sentence that can be passed in this case.

"I want a written report within 14 days from the Crown Prosecution Service, the police and the school telling me who has not done their job properly."