Lead thieves caused £25,000 of damage to the roof of a disused factory.

The Parker Pen factory has been repeatedly targeted by thieves as the price of scrap metal continues to soar.

Security staff disturbed four men in the grounds of the factory in Railway Road, Newhaven, on May 18.

Ben Bourne was caught after he jumped over a wall in front of a police officer called to the scene.

Three small pieces of lead were found in his rucksack and his hands were black from handling the scrap metal.

Bourne, 22, of Meeching Place, Newhaven, pleaded guilty to stealing the lead worth only about £15.

At Brighton Magistrates Court he also admitted possessing a 10cm blade he said he used as a cutting tool at work.

Martina Sherlock, prosecuting, said: “Bourne and another man jumped over the wall in front of the officer in Railway Road.

“He shouted to them to stop and Bourne stood still but the other man ran off.

“The officer also saw two other men inside the grounds running away from the factory.

“He handcuffed Bourne and noticed that his hands were almost black with dirt.

“Three small pieces of lead and a spanner were found inside his rucksack.”

Bourne claimed he had gone to the factory alone to steal the lead to sell because he had run out of money until he was paid.

He told police the lead was already piled up on the roof and he had only taken three small pieces.

Miss Sherlock added: “The amount of damage caused to the roof that night came to £25,000.”

Natasha Dardeshti, defending, said: “He recognises that on this night he made a really stupid decision to take three small chunks of loose lead.

“That was the entirety of his involvement on that lead roof.”

Bourne was ordered to do 100 hours unpaid community work and must pay £85 costs.

The case highlights the soaring cost of scrap metal.

Everything from manhole covers to street signs and lead from church roofs has been targeted by rogue scrap metal dealers.