A MAN caused thousands of pounds worth of damage when he stripped lead from the roof of an accountancy firm.

Ian Riley was high on crack cocaine when he targeted Dewsbury-based company Walter Dawson Accountants on February 29.

He was caught red-handed stashing the scrap metal in a wheeled bin by a council worker.

His actions caused “substantial damage” to the building, Kirklees magistrates were told.

Riley’s court appearance came days after Robert Law was jailed for two years after stealing cable from Golcar Viaduct.

The theft meant that trains using the line between Manchester and Huddersfield were disrupted for seven days.

Riley, of Croft Street in Dewsbury, admitted stealing the lead – worth an estimated £6,000 – when he appeared before magistrates yesterday.

Alex Bosman, prosecuting, said that Riley was seen by the premises on Wellington Road East just before 6am.

The building was surrounded by scaffolding because of ongoing work.

A council refuse collector saw the 39-year-old and another man pulling and pushing a large commercial wheeled bin.

Mr Bosman said: “It looked very heavy and he challenged them about it.

“They said they lived in the flats opposite and that the bin was from the flats.

“The refuse collector was suspicious and called police.

“One of his colleagues looked in the bin and saw that it was full of scrap metal.

“There were also several piles of lead at the side of the road.”