Two men charged after Paddington Bear statue sliced in half and stolen in Newbury
Paddington Bear Statue Vandalised and Snatched in the Dead of Night
Two 22-year-olds have been charged after a shocking act of vandalism saw a freshly installed Paddington Bear statue in Newbury sliced in half and stolen from its bench.
Daniel Heath, from Thornton, West Yorkshire, and William Lawrence, from Enderby, Leicestershire, face criminal damage charges following the brazen theft at around 2 AM on Sunday, March 2.
Statue Recovered but Community Left Heartbroken
The beloved statue, part of the Paddington Visits national trail marking the third Paddington movie, was installed last October on Northbrook Street to honour creator Michael Bond, who was born in Newbury.
Police have since recovered the missing half, but the statue has now been completely removed from the town centre.
Local residents paid tribute by leaving jars of marmalade and bread – Paddington’s signature snack – where the statue once stood.
Newbury in Shock as Locals Condemn Vandalism
Lee Dillon, Liberal Democrat MP for Newbury, slammed the senseless act:
“Heartbreaking to see that Paddington in Newbury has been vandalised. He brings so much joy to our community. Just yesterday, I stopped to take a photo of him with my family. This senseless damage is so disappointing.”
Trish Willetts, CEO of Newbury Business Improvement District, added:
“We are shocked and heartbroken to see such a senseless act of vandalism has taken place in our charming market town. While this is a truly sad moment for Newbury, the outpouring of support seen online really highlights the strong community spirit that defines our town.”
Charges Filed, Investigation Ongoing
Heath and Lawrence are set to appear in court in the coming weeks. Police continue their investigation and urge anyone with information to come forward.
The community remains hopeful that Paddington Bear will once again charm its way back to Newbury’s streets.
