A man who brought Maidstone to a standstill during an 11-hour protest at the top of a tower block has been jailed.

Police negotiators were called in and a critical incident declared after Martin Tiplady scaled scaffolding around Miller Heights and threatened to jump off on one of the busiest shopping days of the year.

Today Maidstone Magistrates’ Court heard the 49-year-old of Kent Avenue had initially gone up to the 11th storey of the former office block with the intention of committing suicide, but the drama soon became an anti-police protest.

At 4.20pm on December 19, Tiplady had called the police to say he was going to jump off the tallest building in Maidstone and that the force would have “blood on its hands” but refused to give away his location.

Half an hour later he contacted them again to say he could see the police station and that they should go to Lower Stone Street to find him.

He also demanded that the Chief Constable of both Yorkshire and the Metropolitan police forces be called in to look into a complaint he had with Kent Police.

During the stand-off, several roads including Mote Road and Lower Stone Street were closed and a cordon was put in place between Romney Place and Knightrider Street, with dozens of officers involved in the operation as well as fire crews and paramedics.

The unemployed dad was eventually brought down and arrested at around 3.20am the following morning.

James Nichols, prosecuting, explained Tiplady had held a grudge against Kent Police and social services after he was jailed in 2013 for perverting the course of justice.

The previous week he had told police he felt suicidal and threatened to bring Maidstone to a standstill.

But Fionagh Green, defending, said the incident was not pre-planned and that Tiplady had simply “snapped”.

He pleaded guilty to causing a public nuisance and was sentenced to six months in prison.

Chairman of the bench, Alan Phipps said: “This caused significant disruption to a busy town centre. To call it a nuisance is an understatement.

“You caused a tremendous loss to businesses.

“You caused a lot of hardship to a lot of people.”

Before he was led away, Tiplady said: “I’m ashamed of myself, I take full responsibility for my actions.

"I would like Kent Police and social services to take responsibility too.”

He was also ordered to pay an £80 victim surcharge.