Bizarre moment burglar on-the-run swims to tiny island and climbs a tree in desperate bid to escape from police

A burglar on-the-run made a dramatic attempt to evade police by swimming across a lake to a tiny island where he scaled a tree to avoid detection.

The bizarre incident occurred on October 19, as 35-year-old Chad Lambert fled the scene of a brazen store burglary in Bristol.

Smashing his way through the store, Lambert was confronted by shop staff who challenged him over his behaviour.

However, this action only provoked the thief further as he managed to force his way behind the shop till and get his hands on its contents and a bottle of wine in the process.

As staff reported the incident to local police, the 35-year-old fled on foot to a nearby park in the hopes that he could elude authorities under the cover of darkness.

In the midst of the ensuing chaos, Lambert made the decision to swim across the park lake to the small island in its centre.

Chad Lambert (pictured) pleaded guilty to aggravated burglary before Bristol Magistrates Court last week and was sentenced to 26 weeks in prison

Stripping off and dumping his bag behind him, Lambert entered the water and ultimately managed to wade across to what he thought would be safety.

Having successfully scaled a tree on the island, the thief had assumed that the combination of foliage and darkness would shroud his location.

Unfortunately for Lambert though, the Avon and Somerset Police in pursuit had access to drones, which once up in the air, clearly directed authorities to his exact position.

In the surreal footage, Lambert can be seen as a small red figure attempting to conceal himself amidst the leaves and branches. 

Local fire crews were then on hand to aid the police by providing a boat to take them to the island on which Lambert was hiding.

Ultimately arresting the evasive thief, Lambert was charged by Avon and Somerset Police with aggravated burglary.

Appearing before Bristol Magistrates Court last week, the 35-year-old pleaded guilty to the charge and was handed a 26-week prison sentence as a result.