A MAN who hurled tiles at a crowd and threatened to 'destroy police' after climbing onto a roof to evade arrest had been jailed.

Michael David Sparks, 35, climbed on the roof after police turned up at his home in Inkerman Street, Bacup, to arrest him, a court heard.

Prosecuting at Burnley Crown Court, Gwen Henshaw, said Sparks had previously been given a suspended sentence after he was involved in a public disorder offence which lasted several days and in which he admitted possessing a lump hammer.

In a second incident, in which he pleaded guilty at Bradford and Keighley Magistrates Court, Sparks was seen by an officer who was investigating an unrelated matter in Todmorden on December 16 last year.

Miss Henshaw said: "He was known by the officer and it was discovered he was wanted in connection with other offences.

"Being searched he had a two foot long butcher's knife secreted down the back of his trousers."

Sparks also pleaded guilty to affray and criminal damage after he climbed onto the roof on July 3.

Miss Henshaw said: "On July 3 in Inkerman Street recognising the police wanted to arrest him in connection with other offences he made his way to the roof, shouted to officers 'don't waste your time, get a negotiator here. You do not know me. You do not know what you're messing with. I will destroy all the police and your cars'.

"He threw a number of roof tiles. These were thrown into a crowd including children. Luckily no one was injured.

"It took negotiators some time to talk him down.

"Roof tiles and slates were thrown and a chimney post."

She said the damage was estimated to be around £1,000.

The court heard Sparks had 27 convictions for 61 offences.

Defending Sparks Robert Bennett told the court he had pleaded guilty at the first opportunity.

He said he was in an emotional state as he knew police wanted to speak to him, he was suffering from depression and some form of schizophrenia.

"He accepts what he did was foolish and dangerous and he is remorseful," he said.

"Happily no-one was injured in this moment of madness which took place in a time scale of four hours."

In relation to when he was found with a knife, he said Sparks was carrying it for defence as threats had been made to him and his family.

Judge Leslie Hull QC, who said it was 'little short of miraculous that no-one was injured', sentenced Sparks to 12 months in total, six for affray and six for breaching the sentence given for carrying an offensive weapon to run consecutively and a further six for possession of an offensive weapon.