Bungling burglar jailed after leaving behind traces of blood
A bungling burglar has been caught and jailed after repeated falls whist trying to escape resulted in blood being left behind which led to him being traced.
Andrew Pickering, of Marx Crescent, Stanley, fell several times while carrying out a burglary at a service station in Ouston, Chester-le-Street, but continued to get back up.
His efforts, made in the early hours of October 21, were captured on CCTV.
Footage shows the 50-year-old entering the service station via a hole in the roof, before proceeding to ransack the shop, causing approximately £3,219 worth of loss and damage.
A Durham Constabulary spokesperson said: “While attempting to escape via the same hole, Pickering fell from the ceiling four times, eventually opting to leave through a door instead.
“A forensic examination of the scene revealed a significant amount of blood, later confirmed to belong to Pickering.”
Appearing at Newton Aycliffe Magistrates’ Court last week, he 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 and handed a community order, requiring him to complete alcohol treatment and rehabilitation activity.