A MAN who staged a seven-hour police stand-off in Newcastle city centre has been sentenced to four months in prison.

Christopher Cook, 39, caused rush-hour chaos after climbing onto the roof of the former police station on Pilgrim Street back on May 2.

Parts of the road were closed as Cook, of Ladykirk Road, Benwell, protested for more than seven hours before police and fire crews were able to negotiate him down safely.

Cook denied causing a public nuisance and affray but admitted the lesser charge of a public order offence which was accepted by prosecutors.

He was sentenced at Newcastle Crown Court on Thursday.

Inspector Steve Wykes, of Northumbria Police, said: “Cook’s actions caused a significant amount of unnecessary disruption and endangered not only his own life, but potentially the lives of others.

“Morning commuters were delayed, bus services had to divert away from their normal routes and there was an avoidable demand on emergency service personnel.

“I hope this serves as a lesson to others that such type of behaviour will not be tolerated and will be punished accordingly.”

Cook served the majority of his sentence while locked up on remand since the incident.