Two RAF engineers who broke a Paddington Endure statue in part after which stole it have been “the antithesis of the entirety Paddington stands for”, a pass judgement on has mentioned.
Daniel Heath and William Lawrence, each 22-year-old engineers at RAF Odiham in Hampshire, have been consuming once they broken the statue at 2am after an evening out in Newbury, Berkshire, on 2 March.
CCTV photos performed at Studying Magistrates’ Court docket confirmed them drawing near the statue prior to making an attempt to tear the endure off the bench, then strolling away with a part of the broken endure.
They carried the statue during the the town and right into a taxi to their base at RAF Odiham, the courtroom heard.
Symbol: The statue prior to it was once stolen. Pic: West Berkshire Council/PA
Heath of Oakhall Park, Thornton, West Yorkshire, and Lawrence, of John Side road, Enderby, Leicestershire, have been sentenced to a 12-month neighborhood order after admitting felony harm.
Symbol: The statue after it was once recovered. Pic: Thames Valley Police/PA
District pass judgement on Sam Goozee mentioned it was once “an act of wanton vandalism”.
“Paddington Endure is a liked cultural icon with kids and adults alike,” he mentioned.
“He represents kindness, tolerance and promotes integration and acceptance in our society.
“His well-known label hooked up to his duffle coat says ‘please take care of this endure’.
“At the evening of March 2 2025, your movements have been the antithesis of the entirety Paddington stands for.
“Your movements lacked recognize and integrity, two values you must uphold as individuals of the military.”
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Symbol: CCTV presentations the Paddington Endure statue being stolen. Pics: Thames Valley Police/PA
The Paddington Endure statue is amongst 23 positioned throughout the United Kingdom and Eire as a part of the Paddington Visits Path, the pass judgement on mentioned.
“In what can best be described as an act of wanton vandalism, the CCTV presentations the 2 of you forcibly take away the entrance facade of the Paddington statue and elevate him during the the town to a taxi which took you and the statute again on your base at RAF Odiham,” Pass judgement on Goozee added.
Heath and Lawrence have been arrested at RAF Odiham the following day and admitted their offences in an interview with Thames Valley Police.
The damaged part of the Paddington Endure statue was once later discovered hidden within the boot of Lawrence’s automotive.
It price £5,451 to fix the statue, prosecutor Jaimie Renuka instructed the courtroom.
The defendants’ defence legal professional Tom Brymer instructed the courtroom: “They have got been silly and they’re extraordinarily ashamed about their movements.”
The pair have been ordered to pay £2,725 every against the prices of repairing the statue and sentenced to a 12-month neighborhood order, in addition to 150 hours of unpaid paintings “as payback to the neighborhood to your movements”, the pass judgement on mentioned.
He added: “Your Squadron Chief speaks of your each being dedicated and diligent individuals of the RAF regardless of your junior rank.
“The RAF recognise your sturdy promise to your long term. I have no idea what your futures might hang within the military on account of this conviction, that will likely be an issue for a special tribunal.”
The RAF are understood to be bearing in mind the courtroom findings.
