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A distraught and drunken man set his ex-girlfriend’s car on fire “in revenge” and caused a trail of destruction across rooftops during a five-hour siege

Mark Porter hurled roof tiles “like Frisbees” at police, damaging two patrol cars and writing off a resident’s Volvo.

The 31-year-old trampled across eight roofs causing anxious residents to be evacuated, on a cold January night, whilst order was restored.

Porter eventually smashed his way into a random loft space – from where the police could then hear him snoring loudly.

He then fell through the attic into the kitchen of a flat below, Leicester Crown Court was told.

He pleaded guilty to arson, by setting fire to a VW Polo, damaging three cars and roofing, as well as causing an affray, overnight on Sunday January 28.

Porter, of St Andrew’s Road, off Saffron Lane, Leicester, was jailed for two years.

The disturbance happened in the Monmouth Drive area of Eyres Monsell , in the city, between 11pm and 4am.

(Image: Google)

Porter had earlier confronted his former partner outside her nearby home, on the first anniversary of their break-up, in some distress following the death of his dog.

She spoke with him but made it clear she was in a new relationship.

He made threats towards her new partner, said Christopher Jeyes, prosecuting.

Porter later threw a can of cider against her window and, when she retired to bed with her partner, Porter smashed the window of her Polo car and then torched it.

When the police arrived he was causing a disturbance on neighbouring roofs and hurling tile missiles “like Frisbees” which narrowly missed officers.

The damage to buildings and vehicles was about £7,000.

What did the judge say?

Sentencing, Judge Philip Head said: “You have 36 previous convictions over a considerable period.

“They include violence, dishonesty, public order - as well as two occasions of possessing offensive weapons following the breakdown of relationships, when you smashed up ex-partners’ property; once with a hammer and the other a samurai sword.

“It’s clear you’re someone who fails to cope when relationships end and have a habit of resorting to serious violence.

“It was the first anniversary of your separation from your last partner – a relationship you had difficulty accepting the end of.

“You’d been drinking heavily in the day.

“I’m told you were at an extremely low point and it was a cumulative reaction to various family bereavements and the loss of your dog – but in two previous relationships you’d also acted violently; that’s part of your nature.

“I accept you’ve had real mental health issues and are now in a more stable condition.

“You’ve been diagnosed with a personality disorder but not one that warrants a hospital order or specific in-patient treatment.”

The judge added: “Setting fire to a car with petrol or diesel in its’ tank was very dangerous and you used accelerant (lighter fuel) to do that.

“It was a pre-meditated act of revenge.

“It led to a sustained episode of public disorder with violence aimed at the police and targeting vehicles.

“Occupants had to go out into the cold January night while this was going on.”

What was said in Porter's defence?

Karly Mee, mitigating, said Porter had a history of suicide attempts and described his actions as “a scream for help.”

He said: “It was at an extremely low point in his life and his mental health was on a downward spiral.

“He was suicidal and intoxicated.

“He feels extremely sorry for the damage caused and wants to make amends.”

(Image: Tom Mack)

Mrs Mee said Porter was now in a “stabilised” mental state, on anti-depressants and wanted to address his problems.

His sister was in court to support him.

The defendant was placed on a three year restraining order banning him from the vicinity of the victim’s home.

Porter further admitted breaching a community order, imposed last November for causing a public nuisance – by staging a rooftop incident, resulting in Church Gate and other city centre streets to be cordoned off.