Overview

• Daniel Heath and William Lawrence, both 22 and RAF engineers, admitted to vandalizing and stealing a Paddington Bear statue in Newbury on March 2, 2025.
• The statue, part of a Paddington-themed trail, was culturally significant as Newbury is the hometown of Paddington's creator, Michael Bond.
• The defendants were sentenced to a 12-month community order, 150 hours of unpaid work, and fined £2,725 each to cover the £5,451 repair costs.
• Judge Sam Goozee condemned their actions as 'wanton vandalism' and criticized them for acting against Paddington's values of kindness, tolerance, and acceptance.
• Efforts are underway to repair and reinstall the statue, symbolizing the community's resilience and commitment to preserving its cultural heritage.