by Hayley Robinson

A man who jumped from the roof of a house during a police stand-off has been given a suspended prison sentence.

Sittingbourne magistrates heard how on January 26, Steven Friend made his way into the loft of his mum’s house in Swanstree Avenue, Sittingbourne, where he punched his way through to the roof.

He was trying to evade police who were there to arrest him in connection with assaulting his then girlfriend Kelly Smith and damaging a padlock to her garden shed.

Friend started throwing tiles at officers.

He was rushed to hospital after jumping – suffering a fractured pelvis, hip joint and elbow and with cuts to his head.

The 35-year-old was later charged with assault by beating, using threatening words or behaviour and criminal damage as well as possessing 105.8g of amphetamine and 0.6g of cannabis resin.

He pleaded guilty to all charges on April 15 when the case was adjourned until Tuesday for sentencing.

Geoff Playford, defending, said: "It all occurred while his state of mind was somewhat disturbed by taking a considerable amount of alcohol and drugs and a feeling something was going with the relationship.

"In a statement by Miss Smith she said ‘I don’t want him to be given a prison sentence I don’t feel it would help the situation. Since jumping off the roof he’s not taken any drugs and has returned to being the man I first met’."

Friend was given a 60-day custodial sentence for the criminal damage, 120-days for assault by beating and 60-days for possessing amphetamine – all suspended for two years.

He was also given a supervision order for two-years during which he must attend 27 sessions of the Intensive Domestic Abuse Programme, ordered to pay a fine of £67, a victim surcharge of £15 and £85 costs to the Crown Prosecution Service.