A criminal attempted to escape from police by clambering up a fire escape and hiding out on a roof when they tried to search him for drugs.

It was 1.45am when police accosted 31-year-old Daniel Brian Corlett on Lord Street, Douglas magistrates were told.

Suspecting he was high on drugs, police told him they were going to carry out a search, but Corlett told them: ’No you’re not,’ and fled the scene.

For the prosecution, Barry Swain said the police had been in nearby James Street when strange noises had attracted their attention and they spotted Corlett carrying what appeared to be a Lucozade sports bottle and a white cup.

’They thought he was under the influence of something but could not smell alcohol,’ he said.

The chase took them through Lord Street, James Street and King Street before the defendant went to ground somewhere behind the Heritage Homes offices, Mr Swain said.

Having discarded the bottle and cup, Corlett then clambered up a fire escape and refused to come down again. He then swaore at police to before climbing further up on to a roof. Eventually he returned to ground level and was arrested.

The court heard the bottle and cup were retrieved and initial analysis suggested traces of cocaine weighing 1.95 grammes, worth £100.

Corlett admitted obstructing a drugs search and possessing cocaine on February 1. The admission was made on the basis of there being one gramme of cocaine, as the substance, when initially weighed, had been wet.

The case was adjourned pending completion of a pre sentence report which is to consider all sentencing options. He was bailed to his home address at Stanley View, Douglas, and reappears on April 27.