A thief plunged 40 feet from a church roof while stealing lead and broke his back.

Adam Harrison, 25, was stealing from the Salvation Army Church and Community Hall on Roe Street, Macclesfield.

But as he attempted to climb down a drainpipe, it snapped and he fell from the roof.

Harrison had already been spotted on the roof at about 1.30am on July 25 by an off-duty security guard who called police, prosecutor Debbie Byrne told Macclesfield magistrates.

The guard then heard a loud crash and saw Harrison running away from the scene, despite his injuries.

Police found him found hiding under a van on a nearby car park, covered in dirt and debris.

A large quantity of lead was found at the side of the church and the roof was badly damaged.

Ms Byrne said: "He saw the opportunity and he took it."

Harrison told police: "I’m skint at the moment."

The repair bill to the roof has been estimated at more than £10,700, which the church is claiming back through insurance.

When officers went to arrest him for breaching his bail conditions a few days later, Harrison was found hiding in the ladies’ toilets of the Fox and Grapes pub on Pitt Street.

When officers grabbed him he resisted, shouting ‘I’ve got a broken back’ and in the ensuring melee he assaulted a constable. He was taken to hospital for scans and treatment to his back.

Lesley Herman, defending, said he had broken it in two places and must wear a brace.

She said: "This is uncharacteristic. He has never stolen lead before. Breaking your back in trying would be enough to stop anyone committing further offences."

Harrison, of Eastgate, Macclesfield, admitted theft, criminal damage and assaulting a police constable. He was given an eight-week prison sentence, suspended for two years. He was also given a four-month curfew between the hours of 8pm-8am and ordered to pay £100 compensation and £85 costs.

No separate penalty was given for the assault.

Major Ray Ward, from the Macclesfield Salvation Army, said: "The fact he was caught meant we were notified about it. Otherwise the first we would have known was when it rained and the roof fell in.

"It’s bad enough as it is but it could have been an awful lot worse.

"But the only thing the thieves care about is what they can get for the lead.

"We never thought it would happen to us. It doesn’t say much about his mentality that he went up there using just a drainpipe.

"Although I don’t like the thought of people falling and hurting themselves, I’m pleased he’s been caught and hopefully he will learn from it."

The hall, which is used by several community groups, had just had a lot of improvement work done. Temporary weather-proofing work was carried out the day after the theft to let people carry on using the building. The Salvation Army is now waiting to hear from its insur-ers about the full extent of the damage caused to the roof.