Police in County Durham have shared comical CCTV footage of a hapless burglar whose escape from a petrol station raid was thwarted by his own clumsiness and a failing ladder.
A Raid Gone Comically Wrong
In the early hours of 21 October, Andrew Pickering, 50, of Marx Crescent, Stanley, along with an accomplice, targeted a petrol station in Ouston, Chester-le-Street. The attempted burglary, however, descended into a series of slapstick failures, meticulously captured on the station's security cameras.
The footage, later set to the tune of Strauss's Blue Danube waltz by Durham Constabulary, shows Pickering struggling to make his escape. The ladder he was using repeatedly gave way, sending him crashing to the ground multiple times as he tried to flee the scene.
Investigation and Social Media Reaction
Pickering was identified from the CCTV and from blood he left at the scene. The force posted the edited video, which includes clips of Pickering watching the footage in a police interview room, on its Facebook and YouTube accounts on Tuesday. It quickly amassed over 29,000 views in a single day.
The police caption on social media read: "It's not about how many times you fall, but how many times you get back up." The post prompted a wave of comments, with one social media user noting Pickering also knocked over a cup during his interview, quipping: "Bit clumsy, isn't he?"
Pickering's accomplice, 46-year-old Daniel Reay of no fixed address, was arrested soon after the incident. A black Ford Focus containing stolen goods was recovered. Reay was charged with burglary and received a community order, requiring him to complete alcohol treatment and rehabilitation activity.
Court Sentencing and Costs
The break-in caused damage and losses totalling approximately £3,219. Last week, Andrew Pickering was sentenced at Newton Aycliffe Magistrates' Court. He was jailed for 12 months for his role in the botched burglary.
Durham Police's decision to share the video highlights the often farcical reality of some crimes and serves as a stark reminder that offenders are frequently caught thanks to modern CCTV and forensic evidence.
