A drunken burglar staged a roof-top stand-off after he was caught breaking into a Royal Mail sorting office.
Alan MacLean, 21, threatened to shoot police and fire officers after he was caught by police, breaking into the sorting office, in Monkton Terrace, Jarrow.
He climbed on to the roof and smashed up a security television camera, using the broken pieces as missiles to throw at officers.
Newcastle Crown Court heard how MacLean triggered a silent alarm when he broke into the premises, which immediately alerted police.
The former shipyard worker, of no fixed address, pleaded guilty to burglary, criminal damage and affray.
He caused £1,930 damage to the sorting office and £8,012 to the security camera.
Yesterday, Judge Richard Lowden jailed MacLean for 18 months
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