Roofer Joe Crossley has been jailed after pleading guilty to stealing tiles from churches across Wiltshire, causing thousands of pounds worth of damage.

Crossley, 24, formerly of Avon Road, Melksham, but now living in Melton Mowbray, Leicester-shire, pleaded guilty to three offences of theft between May and July last year, with another seven taken into account.

He was sentenced to 16 months imprisonment last Thursday at Swindon Crown Court.

He admitted stealing stone tiles from St Anne’s Church in Bowden Hill, Lacock last May, St Leonard’s Church in Keevil last June, and from the roof of St Mary the Virgin Church in Whaddon Lane, Hilperton on July 29 last year.

On that occasion a witness reported hearing people moving on the church roof in the early hours and police discovered Crossley and another man in a van nearby.

Both were arrested on suspicion of theft. The second man was later released without charge. The damage to all three churches totalled over £14,000.

St Anne’s had £4,458 worth of tiles stolen in May last year.

The Rev Sally Wheeler, vicar of St Anne’s, said: “We’re insured but there’s still a cost, there’s other damage and the knock-on effect is that premiums go up.

“He caused so much hassle for so many people.”

Among the offences taken into account were £3,500 worth of tiles taken from St John the Baptist in Little Somerford, £3,300 worth taken from Egypt Farm in Seend, two raids at St Mary’s in Broughton Gifford costing £3,800, £3,000 of tiles taken from St Peter’s in Monkton Farleigh and a raid at Whaddon Farm, Hilperton.

Beef farmer Geoff Wiltshire, of Egypt Farm in Seend, said: “They were taken from a small roof on a store where I keep a lawnmower and bits and pieces. The roof leaked and caused damage. I didn’t notice at first.

“I suppose they took around a tonne, a tonne-and-a-half. Today we lock everything up, whereas years ago you wouldn’t lock anything up, especially on a farm.”

Mr Wiltshire added that he thought Crossley’s sentence was probably fair.

DC Nicky Cross, of Wiltshire Police, said: “The result of Joe Crossley’s actions was not just untold damage to historic buildings that cost many thousands of pounds to repair, but untold damage to entire communities who work tirelessly to maintain these hubs of local life.”