Bungling car crook knocked out by brick he used to try to smash car window

The man takes aim at the car with his weapon Credit: Gerry Brady

A bungling would-be criminal has become a global laughingstock after CCTV footage emerged showing him knocking himself out with a brick while trying - and failing - to smash a car window.

The man - since dubbed 'Ireland's dumbest criminal' - can be seen on video throwing smaller stones at a Mercedes parked in the street outside the Pheasant pub in Drogheda, Ireland.

In a sign of things to come, the stones bounce harmlessly off the car's windows.

The man then returns a while later wielding a much bigger weapon, and tries to throw it at the driver's side window.

But it rebounds straight back off, smashing him in the face and knocking him to the ground.

The car belonged to the owner of the pub, Gerry Brady, who later uploaded the clip to YouTube - and it has since been shared around the world.

The man was knocked unconscious when the brick bounced straight back off, hitting him in the face Credit: Gerry Brady

He told the Irish Independent that when he saw the man lying bloodied in the street, he thought he had been attacked and went to try to help.

But the man, when he came to, instead threatened to blackmail the landlord unless he coughed up 50 euros for a taxi.

Gerry and his wife called the police, who showed up within minutes and arrested a man - who allegedly tried to claim his injuries had come from being attacked by the pub owner.

The Garda have confirmed that the incident is being investigated.