Blackburn magistrates court has heard how a man suffered a severe leg break as he attempted to steal lead from a church roof. Jamie Campbell Caddis, 36, spent five days in hospital following the accident at Christ Church in Nelson, which occurred in January. 

Tracy Yates, prosecuting, detailed how Caddis summoned an ambulance to the church after falling off the roof. "The caretaker attended and found lead removed from the roof had been stacked up ready for removal," Yates explained, according to the Lancashire Telegraph. "He said it was the fifth time lead had been stolen from the church roof in the last two years. The amount of damage has not been quantified but clearly it was extensive."

Two months later, in March, Caddis was stopped by police on suspicion of burglary as he rode his bike through the town. "He was searched because the police thought he may have been involved in a burglary and a razor blade was found on him," she said. 

Then, on 5th September, Caddis was spotted attempting to steal lead from the 24 Hour Health Care building in Nelson. 

Mark Williams, defending, said his client was suffering with a serious drug abuse problem. 

"He recognises a period of time in custody may help him get off heroin and onto a methadone prescription," Williams noted. 

Caddid pleaded guilty to possession of a bladed article, theft of lead and possession of cannabis. He was sentenced to 22 weeks in prison after breaking the terms of his suspended sentence through the committing of his more recent offences.