Burglar in rooftop escape attempt

Sep 18 2007 by Deborah James, Liverpool Daily Post

A SOUTHPORT man who spent more than an hour on a rooftop after police tried to arrest him for burglary was yesterday handed a jail sentence.

But, after hearing James Gelling was now determined to turn his life around and keep out of trouble in a letter from his girlfriend, the judge suspended the sentence for two years.

Liverpool Crown Court heard that Gelling was wanted for breaking into a house.

Two days later, on the afternoon of August 9, police spotted Gelling and when they tried to arrest him he scaled Hesketh Mount, between Lord Street and King Street.

He stayed on the roof of the building, which was undergoing major renovation, for more than an hour before being talked down by police negotiators. Gelling, 20, of Victoria Road, Southport, pleaded guilty to burglary.

His barrister, Andrew Loveridge, said Gelling was in a stable relationship and had a firm offer of employment, and believed these factors would enable him to turn his life around.

Gelling was placed under supervision for two years.