A robber was caught by police while escaping from an office building in northwest England in a stolen forklift.

Christopher Croston, 24, was jailed for six-and-a-half years after Liverpool Crown Court heard he had returned to the crime scene six weeks later for a second robbery, Crosby Herald reported.

In the first theft, Croston and his mates threatened the Rolls Royce complex security guard in Bootle on January 17. The thieves took computer equipment from the office, along with the forklift.

Judge Mark Brown said the robbery involved gratuitous violence.
"The fact you used such a slow and conspicuous getaway vehicle as a forklift during the burglary shows how drunk you were."

Police officers stopped the forklift as it travelled down Hereford Drive, in the suburb of Netherton, with Croston, wearing a high-visibility jacket, behind the wheel, the court heard.

On March 5, Croston and a mate returned to the Rolls Royce complex, punched the security guard and stole his car.

Croston's lawyer said his client had a serious drink problem.