Good Morning Britain presenter Ranvir Singh was left utterly baffled during a recent broadcast after viewing what she dubbed the "worst burglary attempt of all time." The ITV show aired astonishing CCTV footage of a hapless robber's failed escape from a petrol station in County Durham.
The Botched Burglary in Ouston
The incident involved 50-year-old Andrew Pickering, who targeted a service station in Ouston, Chester-le-Street, in the early hours of October 21 last year. Pickering gained entry by creating a hole in the building's roof. However, his plan began to unravel almost immediately.
After looting the premises, causing an estimated £3,219 in damage and loss, Pickering found himself trapped. He repeatedly attempted to flee through the very hole he had created, but his efforts were comically unsuccessful.
An 'Inspirational' Failure to Escape
In a sequence that left viewers and police alike astonished, the CCTV footage captured Pickering's multiple failed attempts to climb back through the roof. He fell from the ceiling a total of four times during his struggle to escape. Durham Police later remarked that his persistent, yet futile, efforts were almost "inspirational."
A forensic examination of the scene revealed a significant amount of blood, which was later confirmed through DNA testing to belong to Pickering. After his series of painful failures, he eventually opted for the simple solution: he left through a door.
Court Sentencing and Social Media Reaction
Pickering, of Marx Crescent, Stanley, was subsequently charged with two counts of burglary. Last week, he appeared at Newton Aycliffe Magistrates' Court and was sentenced to 12 months in prison.
An accomplice, 46-year-old Daniel Reay of no fixed abode, was also charged. Reay received a community order, requiring him to complete alcohol treatment and rehabilitation activities.
Durham Constabulary shared the footage on social media, captioning it with a tongue-in-cheek quote: "'It's not about how many times you fall, but how many times you get back up.'" The post quickly drew amused reactions online, with one Facebook user praising the composure of legal officials, writing: "Congrats to the interviewers, prosecutors and the jury for not breaking out laughing."
Another viewer simply remarked on the burglar's lack of grace, stating: "Bit clumsy isn't he." The footage served as a stark, and somewhat farcical, reminder that crime does not pay.
