CAT burglar James Davidson was caught red-handed in the middle of a rooftop raid.

He had only just been released from a three year custodial sentence, Warrington Crown Court heard on Friday.

Davidson, 20 - stated to have been a crack cocaine addict since the age of 12 - was sentenced to two years' youth custody.

Judge Roger Dutton told him: "This is the 10th time in six years you have been caught for burgling or attempting to burgle commercial premises.

"On the last occasion you received three years for a vast number of burglaries - but you still went back offending."

The court heard Davidson, of no fixed address, was spotted on a flat roof above a television shop in Widnes town centre, trying to force a fire door.

When police arrived, he tried to run away over rooftops but was eventually persuaded to climb down.

At the police station he wrecked a recording machine after giving a taped interview and then lunged at an officer and had to be restrained.

Teresa Loftus, defending, said Davidson had been addicted to crack cocaine since 12 and had received little education.

But over the last 12 months he had managed to become drug free.

He had managed to obtain labouring work on building sites but when this work ended became bored and committed the offences.

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