A MAN was due to appear in court today (Monday)charged with assaulting a nurse at Leighton Hospital in Crewe.

Andrew Burns also face charges in connection with throwing tiles from the hospital roof.

On Friday afternoon, police stopped a vehicle travelling north on the M6 motorway on suspicion that it had been stolen.

Burns, aged 19, of Flockhouse Avenue, Ballingry, Cowdenbeath, was arrested and checks identified that he was wanted on a number of warrants.

He was taken to Middlewich custody suite and then referred to Leighton Hospital for medical treatment.

A Cheshire Police spokesman said: "At the hospital, at around 6.30 pm, he left the treatment area and made his way on to a flat roof, refusing to come down and throwing tiles from the roof.

"Police maintained a cordon, a police helicopter was brought in for a short period to assess the area, and a police negotiator was called.

"The man came down from the roof at approximately 3am following dialogue with the police negotiator and was arrested for criminal damage and assault on an NHS staff member.

"He was detained in hospital for a short while before being released into police custody."

He was subsequently charged with Section 39 assault on a nurse, three offences of criminal damage - in relation to damage caused to police cars and vehicles belonging to the public by roof tiles.

He was further charged with escaping lawful custody and with damaging the hospital roof.

He was due to appear at South Cheshire Magistrates Court this morning (Monday).