A BOY had to be grabbed from a roof by a police officer after he climbed there in a "temper tantrum", a court heard yesterday.

The 15-year-old climbed on to the roof after an argument with his foster mother, Darlington Youth Court heard.

He swore at his foster mother and demanded to speak on the phone to his mother or grandmother.

When he refused to come down, the police were called.

He only came off the roof when a policeman grabbed him through an upstairs window and dragged him back in the house.

Ciaran Grogan, prosecuting, said the incident, which happened on the morning of Thursday, December 14, was "obviously dangerous to himself and others".

Stephen Andrews, mitigating, said: "He responded to the situation in a wholly inappropriate fashion.

"It was something of a temper tantrum, but there is no suggestion any violence was used."

The boy, who lives in Darlington, was given a six-month conditional discharge after pleading guilty to using threatening words or behaviour.

Leslie Abbott, magistrates' chairman, said: "There are other ways of making yourself heard."