Thug jailed for hurling tiles at police during Leeds roof stand off after needle-stab threat
Man torched his bedroom and spent hours sat on the roof refusing to come down.
A thug hurled roof tiles at police at a house in Leeds after making threats to stab them with an infected needle.
Jake Flatley set fire to his bedroom before climbing onto the roof of the house in Bramley, Leeds Crown Court heard this week.
The 28-year-old was jailed after he admitted affray, arson reckless as to whether life was endangered and multiple counts of criminal damage.
The court heard that on the morning of December 13 last year, Flatley returned to his parents’ home on Outgang Lane.
They had not seen him in days and he later admitting he had been “bingeing” on alcohol and drugs.
When the police were called he made threats to stab the arriving officers with an infected needle, so they retreated to safety and called for back-up.
Flatley then set fire to clothes on his bed. The black smoke could be seen from outside.
Flatley then climbed out of the window and onto the roof.
He then began to rip up tiles from his parents’ home and their neighbours, throwing them towards the police.
He damaged six vehicles including two police cars and a fire engine.
Video footage was taken by locals and uploaded to social media as he refused to come down.
After several hours Flatley eventually gave himself up and was arrested. He confessed to officers that he had “ruined his life”.
He has two previous convictions for three offences, including criminal damage and public disorder.
Mitigating, Samreen Akhtar said he suffered mental-health issues exacerbated by his use of illicit drugs.
She said he was apologetic to his parents, their neighbours and the emergency services.
Flatley, of no fixed address, had been held on remand since his arrest and Ms Akhtar said it was his “first taste of custody”.
She said that he has since been diagnosed with a depressive and anxiety disorder. His parents remained supportive, she added.
Judge Richard Mansell KC jailed Flatley for a total of three years and six months.