An escaped prisoner who threw ‘missiles’ at police during a 13-hour rooftop stand off has been jailed for 18 months.

David Osbaldeston, 20, managed to break through the ceiling at his ex-girlfriend’s house and clambered up onto the roof.

It took trained police negotiators all night to talk him down from the top of the property, on Dunnyshop Avenue, last August 18.

He was jailed for 18 months at Burnley Crown Court by Judge Jacqueline Beech.

She said: “You caused valuable and scarce resources to be used while you sat on the roof all night while you threw tiles as missiles at the police.”

Prosecutor Andrew Petterson said the ‘frightening’ episode began when Osbaldeston was found in his cell at Lancaster Farms with cuts to his right arm having taken an overdose of tablets.

He was rushed to Royal Lancaster Infirmary but kept for just two hours before being discharged.

As he was being escorted to a taxi by two prison guards, Osbaldeston managed to slip out of his handcuffs and fled from the scene, with prison officers unable to catch him.

Two days later, on August 18, Osbaldeston turned up at his former girlfriend’s  home.

When police arrived he ran upstairs, kicked a hole in the roof and pulled himself up onto the top of the building.

Mr Petterson said Osbaldeston threw roof tiles at officers – one of which damaged a police car.

He finally surrendered and climbed down at 8am the following morning.

Osbaldeston, of Rutland Close, Accrington, who has a string of previous convictions dating back several years, pleaded guilty to escaping from lawful custody and affray.

Richard English, defending, said Osbaldeston has a ‘significant history’ of suicide attempts, depression and self harm.

He said Osbaldeston’s former partner had cut off contact with him, leading him to make a serious attempt to take his own life.

The barrister said Osbaldeston escaped from custody ‘on the spur of the moment’ in a desperate bid to speak to his former girlfriend.

He added that the defendant was a ‘frightened, anxious man’ during the stand off, who had been frustrated at what was happening to him.

But Judge Beech said she believed Osbaldeston had planned the ‘prolonged’ and opportunist escape.

She said: “You knew exactly what you were doing and it was lucky for you that the handcuffs were not tightened.”