THE man who staged a rooftop vigil for two days in Semington was talked down from a similar situation in Devizes three years ago.

Ross Lee Grant, 32, appeared in court on Tuesday when he pleaded guilty to criminal damage to a roof, theft of a CD player and a mobile phone and failing to report an accident.

He was released on conditional bail while psychiatric and other reports are prepared and he is due to be sentenced on November 1.

Police were called to an address in Semington, near Melksham, at around 5pm on Friday when neighbours reported that Grant had gone up on the roof of a nearby house following an argument with his former girlfriend.

He ripped tiles from the roof and threw them at officers, tried to cut through electricity wires and was generally abusive to police and onlookers.

He was eventually coaxed down from his rooftop eyrie by police negotiators at around 2pm on Sunday and was arrested.

The incident echoed a similar one in December 2003 when Grant climbed the tower at the Wiltshire Fire Brigade training centre at Hopton Industrial Estate in Devizes after he had tried unsuccessfully to get into Hayden's Bakeries to confront his former partner.

The freezing weather at the time ensured that his lofty protest lasted only four hours instead of nearly 48 at Semington.

Grant's behaviour while on the tower was as concerning to officers as the way he is alleged to have behaved at the weekend.

Chief Superintendent Paul Howlett, who is in charge of negotiator teams all over the county, said he appreciated the frustration felt by all concerned over the length of time the Semington stand-off lasted.

He said: "It was at all times at the forefront of our minds to save lives; both the life of the individual involved and of the members of my staff who were taking part in the incident.

"It could have been anyone's son or daughter up there on that roof. We do bear a responsibility to make sure that it is brought to a safe conclusion.

He said: "You have to bear in mind this individual was throwing tiles from the roof and was threatening to throw himself off too."