Chaotic moment world’s clumsiest burglar falls FOUR times from ceiling while trying to flee robbery at petrol station

THIS is the moment the world’s clumsiest burglar fell FIVE times from a ceiling while trying to flee a raid.

Andrew Pickering had broken into the petrol station in County Durham with an accomplice when the embarrassing scenes unfolded.

The hapless burglar, 50, first crashed through the ceiling while gaining entry to a back room at the store.

Footage released by Durham Police – backed by Strauss’s Blue Danube waltz – shows Pickering causing chaos as he ransacks the shop.

Pickering was then captured on CCTV falling four times as he tried to climb back into the ceiling using nearby shelving.

On the first two attempts, he smashed into a ladder he was holding as he tumbled to the ground before staggering into a wall as though hurt.

Clumsy Pickering then rested his ladder on a high-vis jacket – causing him to slip and fall for the third time.

After finally climbing up the equipment, the burglar plunges from the ceiling for a final time and crashes into the ladder.

Pickering finally appears to have learnt his lesson as he heads back into the shop in yet another attempt to flee.

But the footage shows him just seconds later falling over the counter into a stack of promotional goods by the till.

After dusting himself off, Pickering then stacks it for a final time – this time smashing into a case of beer – before finally leaving the shop.

The clip then cuts to his police interview, where one of the detectives tells him: “At this point you’ve given up and you found an exit through a side door”.

The footage from the interview shows Pickering giving away his clumsy side again as he knocks over a cup of water.

Officers also question why there was so much of his blood in the stock room, which ultimately led to his downfall as they were able to track his DNA.

Pickering was jailed for 12 months at Newton Aycliffe Magistrates’ Court after being convicted of two counts of burglary.

His accomplice Daniel Reay, 46, was also charged with burglary and handed a community order.

Police said the raid happened in the early hours of October 21 and cost £3,219 worth of loss and damage.