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

A fleeing thief made a dramatic attempt to evade police by swimming across a lake to a small island where he climbed a tree to avoid detection.

The bizarre incident occurred on October 19, when Chad Lambert, 35, fled the scene of a brazen store robbery in Bristol.

Making his way through the store, Lambert was confronted by staff who questioned him about his behavior.

However, this action only provoked the thief further, as he managed to force his way behind the cash register, grabbing its contents and a bottle of wine in the process.

When staff reported the incident to local police, the 35-year-old man fled on foot to a nearby park hoping to elude authorities under the cover of darkness.

In the chaos that followed, Lambert made the decision to swim across the park’s lake to the small island in the center.

Chad Lambert (pictured) pleaded guilty to aggravated robbery at Bristol Magistrates’ Court last week and was sentenced to 26 weeks in prison.

Lambert undressed and left his bag behind him, entered the water and finally made it across to what he thought would be a safe place.

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

Unfortunately for Lambert, the Avon and Somerset Police pursuing him had access to drones which, once airborne, clearly directed authorities to his exact position.

In the surreal images, Lambert can be seen as a small red figure trying to hide among the leaves and branches.

Local firefighters were present to assist the police by providing them with a boat to take them to the island where Lambert was hiding.

Finally arresting the elusive thief, Lambert was charged by Avon and Somerset Police with aggravated robbery.

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