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YOB’S ROOFTOP SIEGES BANNED...IN CASE HE FALLS AND SUES POLICE

Adam Corbett's sieges have cost police £500,000

Wednesday April 21,2010

By Chris Riches

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BRITAIN’S compensation laws were under fire last night after police were forced to ban a yob from defiantly standing on roofs – in case he fell off and sued them.

Petty villain Adam Corbett, 22, repeatedly stages rooftop sieges whenever officers come knocking, holding much-needed PCs at bay for up to 10 hours.

The joyrider has been dubbed a “prolific offender” and local car crimes linked to him often mean officers have to visit his home to quiz him.

But it is estimated his 15 rooftop protests have so far cost taxpayers £500,000 – because police have to stand by and make sure he does not fall off.

Britain’s twisted compensation laws mean if he ever did fall off, he could sue police for not ensuring his safety.

Now Lancashire Police have been forced into giving him an interim Asbo banning him from climbing all local rooftops. If he does it again he will face up to five years in jail.

Last night the TaxPayers’ Alliance said: “It’s utterly ridiculous taxpayers have to bankroll this costly game of cat-and-mouse.

“These regulations make the job of the police much more difficult and reveal huge flaws in the ­system. It will leave many people asking why we should pay through the nose to protect a man who clearly has no regard for his own safety?” Inspector Dave Mangan said officers had a “duty of care” to the ex-prisoner when he puts his life at risk, but stressed Corbett’s actions were “resource and time-intensive”.

He explained: “It’s a worry for us if he falls. Questions will be asked of us and our tactics. Did we force him down or put him into a more dangerous position than he put himself?

“He’s putting his own life at risk and we have to be concerned when negotiating with him. We are just hoping this Asbo will curb his offending behaviour.”

Blackburn magistrates heard on Monday how Corbett, from nearby Rishton, has a string of previous convictions, including car crime, joyriding and assault.

At 18 he was given a suspended jail term and ordered to attend an anger management programme after being in a gang who attacked a couple with a claw hammer over the sale of a car. Prosecutor Chris Kehoe said: “The interim anti-social behaviour order is being sought because of a long history of anti-social behaviour, vehicle theft and threatening behaviour.”

Corbett is also banned from riding any motorbike or scooter, driving a car, any anti social behaviour or being drunk in a public place.

Corbett – who is disqualified from driving and has a curfew – has only recently been released from a 130-day prison sentence for car offences, including aggravated vehicle taking.

Inspector Mangan added: “When ever we knock on his door, he immediately climbs out of a first-floor window and onto the roof before we’re even up the stairs. It can be very expensive if we have to seal off roads or get the helicopter out to film the incident.”