Rooftop drama man pleads guilty to robbery at the eleventh hour

McCormick tries to evade capture by climbing onto his roof

Christopher McCormick, of Tunstall Lane, Pemberton, had denied the charges and was due to go before a jury at Bolton Crown Court.

Related: Police close road after man spotted on roofRelated: Rooftop drama man in courtBut the trial was not needed after he admitted stealing cash and bank cards in a robbery on October 25, as well as having a knife.

The 42-year-old will now be sentenced at the same court on Friday, June 8 for the offences, as well as 10 others.

McCormick pleaded guilty at an earlier court hearing to carrying out a burglary at John Mather Butcher’s shop, in Pemberton, on October 14. Meat and a charity box containing £4 was stolen.

He also admitted four counts of fraud, relating to the use of bank cards belonging to four people in October and November.

And he pleaded guilty to affray after an incident on the roof of a building on Tunstall Lane on December 2.

Police were called to reports of a man on the roof throwing slate tiles onto the street below and the area had to be cordoned off.

McCormick had previously changed his pleas for four further charges, having initially denied being responsible.

He admitted carrying out four burglaries, which took place on Sherwood Drive, Spring Bank, on October 16; Pine View, Winstanley, on October 20; Brindley Street, Pemberton on

November 26; and Tunstall Lane on November 20.

Among the items reported to have been stolen were bank cards, passports, handbags and cash.

McCormick was remanded in custody until the sentencing hearing.