A would-be thief was caught red-handed after Larkhall residents reported noises on the roof of their building late at night.
When William Weir looked down from his vantage point, he found himself surrounded by police officers.
Weir, 50, a prisoner, was jailed for 18 months at Hamilton Sheriff Court this week.
He admitted damaging roof tiles and trying to break into the building in John Street on August 26.
Neil Thomson, prosecuting, said residents raised the alarm about 11.30pm.
Noises suggested something was happening in the loft space that covers a number of flats and a shop.
Mr Thomson told the court: “Police arrived and some officers went to the back of the building while others stayed at the front.
“Weir was seen climbing on to the apex of the roof and after a brief negotiation he came down and was arrested. He was in possession of a torch.”
Defence agent Ian Scott said his client’s criminal record “does him no favours”.
Mr Scott stated: “After he was freed from his last prison sentence, his partner died.
“Then he was looking after his elderly mother.
“In his own words, his head was not in the right place and he resorted to this type of offending again.”
Sheriff Douglas Brown said, given the accused’s record, a “substantial” sentence was necessary, but reduced it from two years because of his early guilty plea.
