THE man who threatened to jump from a roof during a police stand-off claims the force wasted time and money in trying to arrest him.

Sam Walker, 25, said police were only after him because of a clerical error and says he is innocent after charges of assault and possession of cannabis were brought against him.

Five police cars, two ambulances, two fire engines, including the county’s aerial platform ladder, and the Essex Police helicopter were drafted in after Mr Walker fled to the roof of a three-storey block of flats in Chalkwell Avenue, Westcliff, after officers came to arrest him for failing to answer bail.

Mr Walker said he threatened to jump from the roof because officers failed to listen to his argument that he had tried to answer bail three times at Grays police station.

He said: “The police are idiots for wasting peoples’ money. They should be out there catching the proper criminals. They have messed up big time because of a lack of communication. But they won’t listen."

Mr Walker has now been charged with failing to answer bail, plus assault causing actual bodily harm and possession of cannabis, offences which are alleged to have taken place at the Ship in Dock Road, Grays, on April 8.

His mother Ria Alexander, 50, said: “He was sunbathing on the roof and the police came to arrest him. We showed them his paperwork, but they still decided to send a helicopter. It was a complete waste of taxpayer’s money.”

A police spokesman said: “Samuel Walker from Chalkwell Avenue, Westcliff was arrested by officers in Chalkwell Avenue on Thursday at around 4.30pm after he failed to surrender. He has been charged with assault on April 8 in Grays, possession of class B drug cannabis in Grays on April 8 and with failing to surrender to custody.

“He will appear before magistrates in Basildon on August 28.”