Sunderland man dubbed ‘a dangerous risk’ after rooftop stand-off when police were called to reports he had machete

Jonathan Adams, 22, took to the roof of a house in the city’s Portchester Square when his mother contacted police saying he had a machete in the early hours of the morning.

Clare Irving, prosecuting, said the incident happened in September last year and when police arrived Adams, of Palgrove Road, climbed up onto the nearby roof.

She said: “There was a suggestion he might have been in possession of a machete. He was threatening to throw bricks and to stab officers and he did throw something down at them.”

Ms Irving said Adams then climbed down and tried to escape on foot by going through neighbourhood gardens and when officers caught up with him he threatened them with a chair.

She said when he refused to drop the chair the police dog was deployed. No weapon was recovered.

Ms Irving said: “He was drunk or under the influence of drugs at the time.”

Although Adams pleaded guilty to threatening behaviour, a spokesman for the probation service said: “He denies he had a knife and that his mother made it up.

“But, on previous occasions he is known to carry weapons and is known to have used those weapons. He is assessed as a high risk of harm.”

She said Adams, an unemployed asbestos stripper, has a history of difficulties with alcohol and takes valium and cocaine.

Tracy Wood, defending, said Adams panicked and went up onto the roof because he knew he was in no fit state to be interviewed by the police.

She said: “He is sorry for that incident.

“In relation to threats being made he accepts that, but he was also making threats to harm himself in some way. He has been vulnerable and it was a little bit of a cry for help.”

District Judge Kathryn Meek, said: “You have a number of previous convictions involving violence and weapons.

“You remain a dangerous risk to the public.”

Adams was jailed for 16 weeks for this incident, plus an extra seven days for non-payment of fines. He was also ordered to pay £121 surcharge.