'Extremely amateurish' plan to steal copper fails when wannabe thieves rescued by police

The five men had climbed on to the roof of the old Shenstone House care home, Halesowen, and had started removing the copper and rolling it up before the police helicopter arrived.

Gianni Desalerno, aged 25, of Meon Grove, Sheldon; Eliott Field, aged 18, of Bentley Grove, Wedley Castle; Jack Hudson, aged 24, of Spearnall Grove, Selly Oak; and Joseph Stewart, aged 22, of Nigel Ave, Northfield, all pleaded guilty to theft.

They were all sentenced to nine months' jail, suspended for 18 months, except O'Connor who was sentenced to 12 months' jail, suspended for 18 months, due to a previous conviction for metal theft.

During sentencing at Wolverhampton Crown Court, Mr Howard Searle, prosecuting, said police were called about 11.15pm after a nearby resident heard suspicious noises.

The police helicopter was sent to assist, and the men were spotted peering over the roof ledge looking down into the garden area where police had arrived.

A search found bolt cutters in the garden, as well as gloves, a fork, and a shovel - items which had been used to pry the copper off the roof, the court heard.

It took place on July 23 last year.

Mr Searle said: "None of the metals were literally stolen, as they were not taken away from the building, but were clearly in the process of being taken away."

Jumping on to a 'short roof' they used a pair of ladders to get to the main roof, but were stranded when they found they were unable to get down.

When questioned by police two of the men said they were brothers who had had a fight, and had climbed to the roof to 'throw themselves off' as they were feeling suicidal.

The others said they had gone up to intervene.

Mr Gurdeep Garcha, defending Desalerno and Field, said: "This was ill-judged, not well planned, and extremely amateurish.

"They managed to clamber on to this roof and didn't have the wit to get back down.

"In the footage from the helicopter one sees them on the roof with very little idea how to get themselves down, and far less how to get the copper down."

Dudley Council was in the process of selling the empty building, and it is estimated more than £19,000 was lost as a result of the attempted theft.

The building has since been sold and demolished.

Judge Michael Challinor said: "There are marks of professionalism about this offence - gloves were being worn, equipment was taken with you, ladders were placed against the building, and transport was organised to get you and the copper away from the scene, but this was a somewhat unprofessional event."

The harm caused was considerable, he said, not only in terms of financial damage but the use of considerable police resources and the fire brigade.

The men were also ordered to pay compensation of £2,000 to Dudley Council and £500 court costs.