Man broke chimneys off houses and pulled off TV aerials in four-hour rooftop standoff

manchestereveningnews.co.uk:

A man hurled roof tiles and broke off chimneys on up to 10 houses during a four-hour standoff with emergency services. Residents in Failsworth were forced to evacuate for their own safety after James Hardman, 29, climbed up onto the terraced-house roofs.

Passers-by initially saw him running around and knocking on windows asking for help before he made his way up to the roof. He then went ‘chimney to chimney’ and caused thousands of pounds worth of damage, Minshull Street Crown Court heard.

Ashton Road West was cordoned off by police for up to six hours and 15 to 20 firefighters were in attendance. The total cost to the fire service was over £8,000. READ MORE: 'F****** put the lights on', man tells neighbour after pulling 'gun' on him Hardman, of Oldham, broke a skylight with a hammer he had found on one of the roofs and entered the loft area before he was detained and sectioned under the Mental Health Act.

He has since pleaded guilty to causing a public nuisance and five offences of criminal damage. At around 12.50pm on December 27 last year, a man saw Hardman running along the front gardens of Wagstaff Drive banging on windows and asking for help, prosecutor Rachel Widdicombe said.