Good Morning Britain presenter Ranvir Singh left viewers stunned after showcasing what she dubbed potentially the 'worst burglary attempt of all time'. The 48-year-old journalist concluded a news bulletin during the Wednesday, January 14 episode with astonishing CCTV footage released by Durham Police.
The Bungled Burglary Attempt
Addressing the audience, Singh introduced the clip by asking: 'Finally from me – is this one of the worst burglary attempts you've seen of all time?' The footage featured 50-year-old Andrew Pickering during a robbery at a petrol station in Chester-le-Street.
As Ranvir narrated, the video showed Pickering's painfully inept escape attempt. After entering through a hole he created in the roof, he tried to climb back out using a ladder. The plan failed spectacularly, with Pickering falling from the ceiling onto the floor below. Police noted his efforts were 'inspirational' only due to the sheer number of attempts it took him to finally flee.
He fell a total of four times in his bid to escape via the roof before eventually giving up and simply using the door.
Forensic Evidence and Court Sentencing
A forensic examination of the scene uncovered a significant amount of blood, which was later confirmed through testing to belong to Pickering. Last week, he appeared at Newton Aycliffe Magistrates' Court facing justice for his crimes.
Pickering was charged with two counts of burglary and was sentenced to 12 months in prison. An accomplice, 46-year-old Daniel Reay of no fixed abode, was also charged with burglary. Reay received a community order, requiring him to complete alcohol treatment and rehabilitation activities.
Viewer Reactions and On-Air Blunders
Social media users were quick to react with humour to the clumsy crime clip. One Facebook commenter wrote: 'Congrats to the interviewers, prosecutors and the jury for not breaking out laughing.' Another quipped: 'How not to use a ladder safety video,' while a third simply joked: 'Hold the ladder mate.'
The amusing burglary segment wasn't the only memorable moment from Good Morning Britain recently. In a previous episode, co-presenter Ed Balls appeared to freeze live on air, prompting Susanna Reid to swiftly step in. Furthermore, Ranvir Singh herself faced an awkward wardrobe malfunction when the buttons on her dress popped open during a broadcast with Kate Garraway and Richard Arnold, leading to cheeky banter and a quick cover-up by her colleagues.
Good Morning Britain airs weekdays from 6am on ITV1 and ITVX.
