Man given 13-month prison sentence for stealing Banksy painting

A man has been given a 13-month prison sentence for stealing Banksy's famous Girl With Balloon painting from a London gallery.

Larry Fraser, 48, of Beckton, east London, was sentenced on Friday after pleading guilty to one count of non-residential burglary at Kingston Crown Court on 9 October.

The painting, one of the street artist's most famous, was stolen from a gallery in New Cavendish Street in London at around 11pm on 8 September last year.

Image: The recovered painting back in the gallery. Pic: Metropolitan Police

Fraser used a hammer to smash his way through a glass entrance door at the Grove Gallery before stealing the artwork, which was valued at £270,000.

Larry Fraser. Pic: Metropolitan Police
Image: Larry Fraser. Pic: Metropolitan Police

He concealed his identity with a mask, hooded jacket and gloves, but the Metropolitan Police's Flying Squad was able to identify him and track him to a location streets away.

He was also caught on CCTV loading the artwork into a van before fleeing the scene.

A second man, 54-year-old James Love, was accused of being the getaway driver in the burglary, but cleared of stealing the print.

Damage to the Grove Gallery after the theft. Pic: Metropolitan Police
Image: Damage to the Grove Gallery after the theft. Pic: Metropolitan Police

Fraser was arrested at his home address on 10 September and charged the next day.

Officers were able to recover the artwork after executing a warrant on the Isle of Dogs. It has now been returned to the gallery.

Fraser was caught on CCTV taking the painting away from the gallery. Pic: Metropolitan Police
Image: Fraser was caught on CCTV taking the painting away from the gallery. Pic: Metropolitan Police

Detective Chief Inspector Scott Mather, who led the Met's investigation, said: "Banksy's Girl With Balloon is known across the world - and we reacted immediately to not just bring Fraser to justice but also reunite the artwork with the gallery.

"The speed at which this took place is a testament to the tireless work of the flying squad officers - in total it took just four days for normality to be restored."

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The manager of the Grove Gallery, Lindor Mehmetaj, said it was "remarkable" for the artwork to have been recovered after the theft.

A second man, James Love, 53, of North Stifford, Essex, was found not guilty of non-residential burglary on 19 September.

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Информация на этой странице взята из источника: https://news.sky.com/story/man-given-13-month-prison-sentence-for-stealing-banksy-painting-13470088