Police share video of burglar repeatedly falling while trying to escape petrol station raid

Police have shared footage of a burglar who repeatedly fell while trying to escape from a break-in hon social media.

Andrew Pickering, 50, crashed to the ground several times as the ladder he was using gave way from under him during a raid at a petrol station in County Durham.

Pickering, from Marx Crescent, Stanley, was jailed for 12 months at Newton Aycliffe Magistrates' Court last week, Durham Police said.

The force published clips of the attempted burglary on its Facebook page on Tuesday with the caption: "It's not about how many times you fall, but how many times you get back up."

The force's video, backed by Strauss's Blue Danube waltz, edits together CCTV footage from the petrol station in Ouston, in Chester-Le-Street, and clips of Pickering watching the footage in a police interrogation room.

It was also posted to the Durham Constabulary's YouTube account, amassing more than 29,000 views in a day.

At one point, Pickering is seen knocking over a cup while being interviewed, leading one social media user to comment: "Bit clumsy, isn't he?"

Read more from Sky News:
Footage of explosion as ship crashes into tanker
London's Burning actor jailed for sexual assault

The break-in happened in the early hours of 21 October. Pickering and his accomplice, Daniel Reay, 46, caused damage and losses of approximately £3,219.

Reay, of no fixed address, was arrested soon after and a black Ford Focus containing stolen goods was recovered.

He was also charged with burglary and was handed a community order requiring him to complete alcohol treatment and rehabilitation activity.

Pickering was identified from CCTV and from blood left at the scene.

(c) Sky News 2026: Police share video of burglar repeatedly falling while trying to escape petrol station raid