'It's like a sketch from Little Britain!': CCTV shows moment real-life Andy Pipkin walks along on crutches - before dropping them to scale a lamp post and steal a Union flag
- Bizarre incident was caught on CCTV on street in Charlton, south-east London
- Unidentified man even takes off his shoes to help him clamber up the lamppost
- Police are not involved and there are no charges being brought against man
This is the moment a real-life Andy Pipkin was filmed walking along on crutches before suddenly dropping them to climb up a lamp post and steal a Union Jack flag.
The bizarre incident, which was captured on CCTV, has reminded observers of the hilarious Little Britain character played by Matt Lucas, who famously faked needing a wheelchair before clambering out in funny sketches revealing that he was in fact able bodied.
The flag emblazoned with Queen Elizabeth II's face had been hanging from the street lamp in Charlton, south east London, since the late monarch's Diamond Jubilee in the summer.
It was left there in honour of Her Majesty following her death at 96 three weeks ago.
![Moment man on crutches approaches a lamppost carrying a Union Jack flag in south-east London](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2022/10/06/18/63192917-11288455-Moment_man_on_crutches_approaches_a_lamppost_carrying_a_Union_Ja-m-2_1665078468645.jpg)
Moment man on crutches approaches a lamppost carrying a Union Jack flag in south-east London
![The unknown man's crutches can be seen strewn on the ground as he clambers the lamppost to take down the flag](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2022/10/06/18/63192913-11288455-image-a-5_1665078492995.jpg)
The unknown man's crutches can be seen strewn on the ground as he clambers the lamppost to take down the flag
![The bizarre theft, which was captured on CCTV, has reminded observers of the hilarious Little Britain character played by Matt Lucas, who famously faked needing a wheelchair before clambering out in funny sketches revealing that he was in fact able bodied](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2022/10/06/18/63193047-11288455-image-m-8_1665078738025.jpg)
The bizarre theft, which was captured on CCTV, has reminded observers of the hilarious Little Britain character played by Matt Lucas, who famously faked needing a wheelchair before clambering out in funny sketches revealing that he was in fact able bodied
In the one-and-a-half minute clip shared online, the man can be seen hobbling along the road on his crutches in broad daylight.
He then drops them and starts to climb up the pole, after kicking off his shoes to help him shimmy up and pinch the flag.
The man then casually drops down, folds up the ripped down flag and conceals it, put on his shoes and calmly walks away.
A baffled neighbour spotted the odd theft last Tuesday (September 20) just before 4.30pm on CCTV.
![The flag emblazoned with Queen Elizabeth II's face had been hanging from the street lamp in Charlton, south east London, since the late monarch's Diamond Jubilee in the summer](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2022/10/06/18/63192909-11288455-image-a-6_1665078530186.jpg)
The flag emblazoned with Queen Elizabeth II's face had been hanging from the street lamp in Charlton, south east London, since the late monarch's Diamond Jubilee in the summer
She noticed the flag was missing and decided to check the security camera pointed towards the lamppost after fearing the masthead had been removed by busybody council bosses.
'It's quite a funny situation actually, my mum and dad woke up that morning and noticed the flag was missing from outside their house,' she said.
The woman continued: 'They've got CCTV, and they thought maybe the council had taken it down.
'So they watched the video back and obviously saw this man come along with his crutches and pull it down.
'It's like a sketch from Little Britain.'
Police are not involved and it's understood the family who own won't be pressing charges.
The anonymous woman added: 'We thought it was funny more than anything.'
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