A MAN has appeared before Blackburn magistrates charged in connection with the rooftop siege in Blackburn town centre on Friday.

Dane Ryan Saez also faces charges resulting from a similar incident in Darwen on March 5.

Saez, 32, of the Islington Motel, Blackburn, faces charges from March of affray, criminal damage to a skylight belonging to Maxine Pugh, causing £250 of damage to a window belonging to William Hill and causing £4,250 of damage to the roof of Hollins Grove Surgery.

The so-called ‘Siege of Darwen’ saw the main Blackburn Road into the town closed for more than 12 hours.

From Friday’s incident, when he climbed onto the roof of The Chippery, Saez is charged with affray, causing a public nuisance by climbing onto the roof of a privately owned building and throwing items which caused the closure of roads in the town centre and caused the use of officers from the emergency services which otherwise would have been available to assist the public.

He is also charged with assaulting Inspector Craig Kelshaw, assaulting PC John McKee, criminal damage to roof tiles belonging to Tassemir Seervet, damaging a police vehicle, damaging roof tiles, masonry and windows belonging to Shabaz Ahmzed and damaging windows belonging to the Department of Work and Pensions.

Saez made no indication of plea and the magistrates directed all matters should be dealt with at Preston Crown Court where he will appear on November 2.

Jonathan Taylor, defending, did not apply for bail and Saez was remanded in custody.