Bungling burglar is Britain's worst crook

Crawshaw was in the frame when police arrived on the scene to read him rights – as he hung in mid-air from the window sill.

It took a call to the fire service to release him into the arms of waiting laughing policemen before charging him with burglary, not before they took photos of the hapless criminal as evidence.

Crawshaw was this week jailed for two years and four months at Minshull Street Crown Court, Manchester, for the attempted break-in at Radcliffe, Greater Manchester on December 19.

The 47-year-old from Radcliffe tried to burgle the property of a pensioner who was out shopping when he got stuck in the upstairs window of the house.

She returned to find him still stuck and called police.