A man who stole lead from the roof of Huddersfield Grammar School has narrowly escaped jail.
Thomas Guinan, 21, of Brighouse, pleaded guilty at Kirklees Magistrates’ Court to stealing the lead from the roof in April this year.
There has been an increasing number of lead thefts from Huddersfield roofs with churches and schools the main targets. As a result, lead theft is now treated as a much more serious offence.
Vanessa Schofield, prosecuting, said the school had experienced difficulties with lead thefts in recent months.
Ms Schofield said: “He must have been aware that police were interested in speaking to him because he handed himself in to Huddersfield Police Station.’’
In mitigation, Hajra Khan, said: “The lead has been recovered, there were others involved, it was not just my client and there was intimidation to get him to take part in this crime.
“Of course this is a serious offence and Mr Guinan is aware of that.”
Chairman of the bench, Wayne Perriman, said: “You must have realised the legal system now lead thefts are considered to be very, very serious.
“You have stolen lead from a listed building, a grammar school, which has an impact on the community.
“We were considering sending you to prison (today) because we regard it as that serious.”
However, he said the bench had decided to impose a community order for 12 months with conditions.
Afterwards, the school’s headmaster, Tim Hoyle, said: “We have had professional roofers in to repair the damage.”
If you have been the victims of lead theft and would like roofing repairs carried out to your home, business or school then contact Huddersfield roofers DPR Roofing today.