Latest news with #PaddingtonVisitsTrail
Express Tribune
26-03-2025
- Express Tribune
Paddington Bear statue: Two RAF engineers convicted for damaging statue
Listen to article Two RAF engineers have been sentenced for criminal damage after vandalising a Paddington Bear statue in Newbury, Berkshire, earlier this month. Daniel Heath and William Lawrence, both 22 and based at RAF Odiham, admitted to damaging the statue in the early hours of March 2 while intoxicated. District Judge Sam Goozee, sentencing the pair at Reading Magistrates' Court, described their actions as the 'antithesis' of everything Paddington stands for. The statue, located on Northbrook Street, was damaged when the two men attempted to lift it from its bench. The bear's seam broke off, and the men were seen walking away with the broken piece, which was later recovered from Lawrence's car. The statue, unveiled in Newbury in October 2024, was part of the Paddington Visits Trail and holds particular significance as the home of Paddington's creator, Michael Bond. The two men were each ordered to complete a 12-month community order, pay £2,725 to cover the statue's repair costs, and were criticised for failing to respect the values of kindness and tolerance that Paddington represents. The damaged statue had to be covered with a bin bag to prevent upsetting children, according to a statement by Trish Willetts, CEO of Newbury Business Improvement District. The exact date for the statue's return has not yet been confirmed.
Sky News
25-03-2025
- Sky News
RAF engineers who stole Paddington Bear statue 'antithesis' of everything he stands for, judge says
Two RAF engineers who broke a Paddington Bear statue in half and then stole it were "the antithesis of everything Paddington stands for", a judge has said. Daniel Heath and William Lawrence, both 22-year-old engineers at RAF Odiham in Hampshire, had been drinking when they damaged the statue at 2am after a night out in Newbury, Berkshire, on 2 March. CCTV footage played at Reading Magistrates' Court showed them approaching the statue before attempting to rip the bear off the bench, then walking away with part of the damaged bear. They carried the statue through the town and into a taxi to their base at RAF Odiham, the court heard. Heath of Oakhall Park, Thornton, West Yorkshire, and Lawrence, of John Street, Enderby, Leicestershire, were sentenced to a 12-month community order after admitting criminal damage. District judge Sam Goozee said it was "an act of wanton vandalism". "Paddington Bear is a beloved cultural icon with children and adults alike," he said. "He represents kindness, tolerance and promotes integration and acceptance in our society. "His famous label attached to his duffle coat says 'please look after this bear'. "On the night of March 2 2025, your actions were the antithesis of everything Paddington stands for. "Your actions lacked respect and integrity, two values you should uphold as members of the armed forces." The Paddington Bear statue is among 23 placed across the UK and Ireland as part of the Paddington Visits Trail, the judge said. "In what can only be described as an act of wanton vandalism, the CCTV shows the two of you forcibly remove the front facade of the Paddington statue and carry him through the town to a taxi which took you and the statute back to your base at RAF Odiham," Judge Goozee added. Heath and Lawrence were arrested at RAF Odiham the next day and admitted their offences in an interview with Thames Valley Police. The broken half of the Paddington Bear statue was later found hidden in the boot of Lawrence's car. It cost £5,451 to repair the statue, prosecutor Jaimie Renuka told the court. The defendants' defence lawyer Tom Brymer told the court: "They have been stupid and they are extremely ashamed about their actions." The pair were ordered to pay £2,725 each towards the costs of repairing the statue and sentenced to a 12-month community order, as well as 150 hours of unpaid work "as payback to the community for your actions", the judge said. He added: "Your Squadron Leader speaks of your both being committed and diligent members of the RAF despite your junior rank. "The RAF recognise your strong promise for your future. I do not know what your futures may hold in the armed forces as a result of this conviction, that will be a matter for a different tribunal."
The Independent
25-03-2025
- The Independent
Men who broke Paddington Bear statue ‘antithesis' of what he stands for
The actions of two Royal Air Force engineers who broke a newly-installed Paddington Bear statue in half before stealing it were 'the antithesis of everything Paddington stands for', a judge said. Daniel Heath and William Lawrence, who are both 22 and work as engineers at RAF Odiham in Hampshire, had been drinking when they damaged the statue at 2am on March 2, after a night out. CCTV footage played to Reading Magistrates' Court showed them approaching the Paddington Bear statute on Northbrook Street before teaming up in an attempt to rip the bear off the bench. They are then seen walking off with part of the damaged statue. The pair carried the statue through the town and into a taxi, which took them back to their base at RAF Odiham, the court heard. Heath of Oakhall Park, Thornton, West Yorkshire, and Lawrence, of John Street, Enderby, Leicestershire, were sentenced to a 12-month community order on Tuesday after admitting criminal damage. District judge Sam Goozee condemned their actions as 'an act of wanton vandalism'. 'Paddington Bear is a beloved cultural icon with children and adults alike,' he said. 'He represents kindness, tolerance and promotes integration and acceptance in our society. 'His famous label attached to his duffle coat says 'please look after this bear'. 'On the night of March 2 2025, your actions were the antithesis of everything Paddington stands for. 'Your actions lacked respect and integrity, two values you should uphold as members of the armed forces.' The statue is one of 23 located across the UK and Ireland as part of the Paddington Visits Trail, the judge added. The bear's creator Michael Bond was also born in Newbury, which added to the cultural significance of the statue for the town, the court heard. 'In what can only be described as an act of wanton vandalism, the CCTV shows the two of you forcibly remove the front façade of the Paddington statue and carry him through the town to a taxi which took you and the statute back to your base at RAF Odiham,' Judge Goozee added. Heath and Lawrence were arrested at the RAF Odiham base the next day and admitted the offences in their interview with Thames Valley Police. The broken half of the Paddington Bear statue was later found hidden in the boot of Lawrence's car. The costs of repairs to the statue were £5,451, prosecutor Jaimie Renuka told the court. Mr Renuka read out a witness statement from Trish Willetts, the chief executive of Newbury Business Improvement District (BID) which owned the statue, who said the remaining half of the Paddington Bear statue had to be covered up by wrapping it in a bin bag. Ms Willetts said: 'We were aware that children would find it upsetting to see the statue completely destroyed'. The defendants' defence lawyer Tom Brymer told the court: 'They have been stupid and they are extremely ashamed about their actions. 'They are two men who are very different than what we see on the CCTV footage.' The pair were ordered to pay £2,725 each towards the costs of repairing the statue. They have also been sentenced to a 12-month community order and ordered to carry out 150 hours of unpaid work 'as payback to the community for your actions', the judge said.
Yahoo
25-03-2025
- Yahoo
Paddington bear thieves represent ‘antithesis' of everything he stands for
Credit: Thames Valley Police Two RAF engineers who stole a statue of Paddington Bear represent the 'antithesis' of everything he stands for, a judge has said. Daniel Heath and William Lawrence were told their actions 'lacked respect and integrity'. The 22-year-olds, who work at RAF Odiham, Hampshire, stole a newly installed Paddington statue after breaking it in half from a bench on a night out in Newbury, Berkshire on March 2. After both admitting criminal damage, the pair were reprimanded by a judge for their 'act of wanton vandalism' in the home town of Michael Bond – the bear's creator. Addressing them at Reading Magistrates' Court, District Judge Sam Goozee said: 'Paddington Bear is a beloved cultural icon with children and adults alike. 'He represents kindness, tolerance and promotes integration and acceptance in our society. 'His famous label attached to his duffle coat says: 'Please look after this bear.' 'Your actions were the antithesis of everything Paddington stands for. 'Your actions lacked respect and integrity, two values you should uphold as members of the armed forces.' Jamie Renuka, prosecuting, said Heath and Lawrence were drunk when the incident took place. The court was shown CCTV footage of them stopping by the Paddington Bear statue and attempting to lift it off the bench. The statue's seam broke off on the second attempt and the pair could be seen walking off with the broken half. Police enquiries with a taxi company revealed the bear had been taken to their RAF base. In mitigation, Tom Bryner, said the defendants had been 'stupid' after a day of drinking and felt 'extremely ashamed about their decisions' when shown the footage. He claimed that Paddington was not necessarily a national treasure, continuing: 'I accept there are a lot of people who know who Paddington Bear is, but there are a number of people who would not say it is a national treasure. 'It is a literary character, I am not too sure it has that level of status.' The pink gazebo which had been erected in Newbury to cover the destroyed statue, he said, had been described in some press reports as a 'mock forensic tent'. Judge Goozee, sentencing, said: 'The statue is one of 23 located across the UK and Ireland as part of the Paddington Visits Trail. 'Of particular significance to Newbury is that the bear's creator Michael Bond came from the Berkshire town. 'In what can only be described as an act of wanton vandalism, the CCTV shows the two of you forcibly remove the front facade of the Paddington statue and carry him through the town to a taxi which took you and the statue back to your base at RAF Odiham. 'You were both under the influence of alcohol. Paddington Bear was then located in William Lawrence's vehicle.' Heath, from Thornton, West Yorkshire, and Lawrence, of Enderby, Leicestershire, were both handed 12-month community orders in which they must complete 150 hours of unpaid work. They must pay £2,275 each in compensation for repairs to the statue as well as £85 in costs. Jars of marmalade, sandwiches and poems were left at the scene of the abduction.
Telegraph
25-03-2025
- Telegraph
Paddington bear thieves represent ‘antithesis' of everything he stands for
Two RAF engineers who stole a statue of Paddington Bear represent the 'antithesis' of everything he stands for, a judge has said. Daniel Heath and William Lawrence were told their actions 'lacked respect and integrity'. The 22-year-olds, who work at RAF Odiham, Hampshire, stole a newly installed Paddington statue after breaking it in half from a bench on a night out in Newbury, Berkshire on March 2. After both admitting criminal damage, the pair were reprimanded by a judge for their 'act of wanton vandalism' in the home town of Michael Bond – the bear's creator. Addressing them at Reading Magistrates' Court, District Judge Sam Goozee said: 'Paddington Bear is a beloved cultural icon with children and adults alike. 'He represents kindness, tolerance and promotes integration and acceptance in our society. 'His famous label attached to his duffle coat says: 'Please look after this bear.' 'Your actions were the antithesis of everything Paddington stands for. 'Your actions lacked respect and integrity, two values you should uphold as members of the armed forces.' Shameful behaviour Jamie Renuka, prosecuting, said Heath and Lawrence were drunk when the incident took place. The court was shown CCTV footage of them stopping by the Paddington Bear statue and attempting to lift it off the bench. The statue's seam broke off on the second attempt and the pair could be seen walking off with the broken half. Police enquiries with a taxi company revealed the bear had been taken to their RAF base. In mitigation, Tom Bryner, said the defendants had been 'stupid' after a day of drinking and felt 'extremely ashamed about their decisions' when shown the footage. He claimed that Paddington was not necessarily a national treasure, continuing: 'I accept there are a lot of people who know who Paddington Bear is, but there are a number of people who would not say it is a national treasure. 'It is a literary character, I am not too sure it has that level of status.' The pink gazebo which had been erected in Newbury to cover the destroyed statue, he said, had been described in some press reports as a 'mock forensic tent'. Judge Goozee, sentencing, said: 'The statue is one of 23 located across the UK and Ireland as part of the Paddington Visits Trail. 'Of particular significance to Newbury is that the bear's creator Michael Bond came from the Berkshire town. 'In what can only be described as an act of wanton vandalism, the CCTV shows the two of you forcibly remove the front facade of the Paddington statue and carry him through the town to a taxi which took you and the statue back to your base at RAF Odiham. 'You were both under the influence of alcohol. Paddington Bear was then located in William Lawrence's vehicle.' Heath, from Thornton, West Yorkshire, and Lawrence, of Enderby, Leicestershire, were both handed 12-month community orders in which they must complete 150 hours of unpaid work. They must pay £2,275 each in compensation for repairs to the statue as well as £85 in costs. Jars of marmalade, sandwiches and poems were left at the scene of the abduction.
