Specialist negotiators had to be brought in from Dundee to coax down a Glaswegian man who went on the rampage on an Aberdeenshire building site.
Andrew Mcconnell broke-in while work was underway at Inverurie Academy and caused about £1,000 worth of damage before he could be apprehended.
His “erratic” behaviour sparked a massive emergency response, with more than 30 police officers, ambulance teams and firefighters descending upon the site.
Fiscal depute Alan Townsend told Aberdeen Sheriff Court the 23-year-old had been “standing on a mobile operating platform” when officers arrived.
He said police had attempted to coax him down, but Mcconnell had only “laughed and continued to operate it”.
“There was concern for his well being as a fall most likely would have resulted in serious injury or death,” Mr Townsend said.
He added that specialist negotiators had eventually been called from Dundee to talk him down.
It was subsequently discovered that Mcconnell, of Craigendmuir Road, Glasgow, had caused £1,000 worth of damage after pulling out pipework for a sprinkler system and using a pipe to strike metal beams.
He was apprehended by fire crews when he eventually stepped back onto the platform and lowered it enough for them to reach him.
Solicitor Tony Burgess said his client – who was in the region for work – had been trying to find a shortcut back to his hotel after a night out.
He said Mcconnell had ended up in the building site after he became separated from colleagues on a night out and had consumed “too much alcohol.
After setting off security alarms, he “panicked” when he saw police.
“He appreciates it is a serious matter and has not drunk since this incident,” Mr Burgess added.
McConnell admitted wilfully damaging property at Inverurie Academy on November 26 last year.
Sheriff Graham Buchanan said he had essentially caused a “significant amount of damage” which was expensive to repair.
He added that the offence was a “serious” matter and ordered him to carry out 120 hours of unpaid work to be completed within six months.
Sheriff Buchanan reminded the joiner that if he “failed to cooperate” with the order then there was a “strong chance” that he would be sent to prison instead.