A man was caught red-handed stealing lead from the roof of a church – after the vicar and warden lay in wait in a sleepy village near Wolverhampton.

Andrew Russell and his accomplice had climbed St Chad’s in Pattingham the night before to steal lead flashing, which he intended to sell for scrap. But when they returned to the scene, their every move was being watched by church warden Dave Challinor and vicar Reverend John Daimond. They called the police and the pair were caught red-handed.

Today the 21-year-old thief was starting a jail sentence of three years and three months. His accomplice is still to be dealt with.

The case is the latest example of metal thefts costing churches, businesses and home-owners tens of thousands of pounds every week in the West Midlands.

Mr Challinor realised metal had been stolen when rainwater began leaking into the church.

When parishioners went to cover the roof in tarpaulin, they found a garden spade and fork used by the thieves to lever the lead from the stone and a quantity of rolled-up lead which they had left behind.

Mr Challinor, aged 65, said: “It looked as if they’d taken as much as their van could carry and intended to come back for the rest.

“We wondered whether they would dare chance their luck a second time.”

But he and Mr Daimond, who retired two months ago, decided to keep vigil anyway and were soon rewarded.

“It was about quarter to midnight when the vicar and myself spotted some movement up on the roof and immediately called the police,” he explained.

“About six officers attended, two of them climbed the church tower where they could see the thieves and talk them into into coming down. It was a very satisfying result.”

Russell, aged 21, of Patricia Crescent, Dudley, pleaded guilty to attempted theft and also admitted a burglary in Dudley and trying to smuggle cannabis into Blakenhurst prison.

Worcester Crown Court was told he was well qualified to steal lead flashing – he was a trained roofer.