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Court: Rooftop theft bid man demanded methadone
POLICE officers waited for two hours for a lead thief to climb down from a building roof after he demanded to be given methadone.
A total of 12 officers were called after Christopher Sigourney climbed 88-feet on to the roof of the Orton Bushfield Medical Practice in Bushfield, Peterborough, at 1am on January 27.
Yesterday a magistrate questioned why so many officers were called and described the incident as a “serious inconvenience”.
Sigourney (31) of Hinchcliffe, Orton Goldhay, appeared at Peterborough Magistrates’ Court and pleaded guilty to attempted theft.
He was given a three-month community order which includes a 45-day curfew between 9.30pm and 7.30am. He was also ordered to pay £85 costs.
Magistrate Lionel Cunnington said: “I’m surprised that 12 officers were called - that’s a serious inconvenience.”
Prosecutor Jackie Knight said that Sigourney had been told there was valuable lead on the roof of a derelict section of the medical centre and he intended to steal it to fund a gambling habit.
Ms Knight said: “At 1am the police received a call from the Orton Centre security team.
“They saw two men who had used a ladder, trying to steal lead flashing. They tried to coax them down but the defendant refused.
“He wanted methadone to be delivered by his partner before he came down. Twelve officers were at the scene.
“Two hours later the defendant’s partner arrived with the methadone and he came down.
“He told officers he had planned the theft. He carried a ladder through the Orton Centre and left it in a nearby bush the previous day. He also took a pair of pliers to remove the lead.”
Andy Cave, defending, said: “This was an unsophisticated theft in which the offender was caught in the act.
“However, nothing was damaged and nothing was stolen. He is remorseful for his actions.
“He asked the police for methadone because he knew he wouldn’t get any in custody.
“He has previously been addicted to drugs and is involved in gambling on roulette.
“He was told that the derelict part of the building was being torn down and saw this is a chance to make money.
“He knows he was in the wrong and is sorry that he caused the police an inconvenience.”
A police spokesman said another man is believed to have been involved in the attempted theft, but no further details about him are available.
The spokesman added: “More officers were needed to contain the building and negotiate with the men to come down from the roof for their own safety.
“We allocate resources according to the incident reported and in this case several officers were needed to ensure both offenders were arrested.”
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Weather for Peterborough
Saturday 26 May 2012
Today
Sunny
Temperature: 11 C to 23 C
Wind Speed: 20 mph
Wind direction: East
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Sunny
Temperature: 10 C to 23 C
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