Blackpool rooftop stand-off: Man arrested on suspicion of sexually assaulting young girl

Police said they had approached the man at 2.20pm yesterday (Sunday, July 12) after he was wanted on suspicion of sexually assaulting a young girl, but the man ran away and led officers on a foot-chase along Caunce Street.

The road was cordoned off after the man then climbed onto a shop roof and reportedly began threatening to throw roof tiles at officers on the street below.

The tense stand-off lasted for six hours with the man refusing to come down to ground-level to face arrest.

Police negotiators were brought to the scene where they entered a property at around 5.20pm.

They remained in dialogue with the man for another three hours before he was eventually coaxed down at around 8.15pm.

Fire crews reached the man using an aerial ladder platform and brought him safely down from the rooftop.

The man has been arrested on suspicion of sexual assault of a female aged 13 and over, as well as public nuisance and criminal damage.

He remains in police custody this morning (July 13).

A police spokesman said: "At around 2.20pm yesterday (Sunday, July 13), officers in Blackpool making enquiries to arrest a wanted man, 23, have seen him make off on to Caunce Street.

"It is believed that he accessed and caused damage to a number of buildings on the same street, before climbing on to the roof of a building, making threats to officers with roof tiles.

"Road closures were put in place whilst police dealt with the incident.

"Negotiators attended and the man came down at around 8.15pm.

"He was arrested on suspicion of sexual assault of a female aged 13 and over (this was the offence he was wanted for), public nuisance and criminal damage. He is currently in police custody.