A man climbed on top of a roof and started hurling racist and religious abuse at a crowd below before throwing slates at a police car.

Preston Crown Court heard how Craig Lloyd had gone to his ex-partners house on November 10, where she was at home with her young child and mother.

Prosecuting, David Traynor said: “She got a call from the defendant threatening to assault her and her mother.

“He then arrived at her house and started to call her a slut and a racist name before she told him to leave.

“He then punched her in the face and cut her lip.”

The court heard how the police were called but before they arrived Lloyd damaged the front door of the house, some garden items and caused £750 worth of damage to her mother’s car.

Lancashire Telegraph: Craig LloydCraig Lloyd (Image: Lancs Police)

Three days later, in the early hours of November 13, Lloyd returned to his ex-partners address and it was reported he got on top of a garage and began shouting abuse to around 30 people who were watching from below.

Mr Traynor said: “He was shouting abuse about the prophet Mohammed and making racist comments, which caused upset and angered the crowd who were watching.

“He then started to pick up some slates from the roof and started throwing them onto the floor with one hitting a police car and smashing its window.

“He remained on the roof for round six hours before voluntarily coming down which is when he was arrested.”

Defending Lloyd, 31, Neil Howard said his client had been using drink and drugs and had some mental health issues but was disgusted with his behaviour.

The court was also told that in committing the offences in November, Lloyd was in breach of a suspended sentence handed to him in November 2021 for being in possession of a knife and being drunk and disorderly.

Recorder Timothy Hannam KC said: “You were drunk and were deliberately provoking in your dangerous behaviour. And your anti-social behaviour was exacerbated by your use of drugs.”

Lloyd, of Bridge Street, Darwen, who has 19 convictions for 28 offences, pleaded guilty to two counts of criminal damage, racially aggravated harassment, religiously aggravated harassment and assault occasioning actual bodily harm and was jailed for 16 months.

He was also made subject of a restraining order in respect of his ex-partner.