A burglar who threatened to throw rocks and a TV aerial at police officers after he had been cornered on a roof has been jailed.

Burnley Crown Court heard how Michael Ben Royal and co-defendant Carl Taylor had climbed through the skylight window of the Paradise Working Men’s Club, Burnley, on December 22.

While inside they had stolen £800 from envelopes inside a safe, some of which was designated for charity.

Prosecuting, Julian Taylor said police had gone to the club in Martin Street at around 4am after they were told the burglar alarm was going off.

Mr Taylor said: “Carl Taylor was seen walking up the side of the club. He was being evasive. Officers searched him and found him in possession of two torches and a screw driver.

“Other officers saw Mr Royal on the roof of the working men’s club. He snapped a TV aerial and picked up a number of rocks. He made threats to throw them at the officers.” Mr Taylor said one of the officers went onto the roof and although Taylor tried to run away he was detained at the scene.

The prosecutor said although the £800 was recovered, the defendants had done around £2,000 of damage to the club in the course of the burglary.

Royal, 27, of Pembroke Street, Burnley, and Taylor, 35, of Lord Street, Rishton, both pleaded guilty to burglary.

Royal also pleaded guilty to handling stolen goods and allowing himself to be carried in a stolen motor vehicle.

That was in relation to two vehicles - a Land Rover Freelander Volkswagen Jetta, which he had come into contact with. The court heard the Freelander and the Jetta were two of six vehicles which had been stolen in a burglary on September 6. Royal was found inside the Freelander and he pleaded guilty to handling stolen goods on the basis he had put false registration plates on the Jetta.

Defending Taylor, Alexander Rostron said his client had only taken part in the working men’s club burglary because he was desperate to buy his children Christmas presents.

Mr Rostron said: “He said it was Christmas. He had no money. He bumped into his co-defendant. They discussed the situation they were both in. He made an application for universal credit. It hadn’t been granted or dealt with. It was a moment of madness.”

Defending Royal, James Heyworth said his client found himself in a similar position to Taylor but now realises the impact his offending will have on his family.

Mr Heyworth said: “He does appear genuinely remorseful. He accepts he has messed up again.”

Judge Andrew Woolman jailed Royal for 16 months and Taylor for eight months.