Rooftop police chase after Albany man breaks through roof tiles

An Albany man led police on a rooftop pursuit in Lockyer after breaking through the tiles of the roof cavity he was hiding in.

In her sentencing remarks in Albany Magistrate’s Court last Friday, Magistrate Raelene Johnston said 31-year-old Preston Trent Williams went to “extraordinary” effort to escape police as officers executed an arrest warrant on August 1.

Police prosecutors told the court officers were let into the unit by Williams’ de-facto partner but did not find him until they searched a roof cavity.

After refusing to comply with instructions to exit the cavity, Williams forced his way through tiles to escape the approaching officers.

Ms Johnston said Williams put the officers’ safety at risk during the ensuing pursuit, which ended in his arrest.

Williams was sentenced to two months imprisonment for escaping lawful custody.

He will spend up to nine months behind bars after being handed a seven-month sentence for a burglary in Middleton Beach in July.

Police prosecutors told the court the burglary, in which Williams used bolt cutters to steal fabric from a shed, was his sixth burglary offence.