West Yorkshire man admits to breaking Paddington Bear statue in half before stealing it

Two men, including once from West Yorkshire, have admitted to breaking a newly-installed Paddington Bear statue in half and ripping it off the bench where it was displayed, before stealing it.

Daniel Heath, 22, of Oakhall Park, Thornton and William Lawrence, 22, of John Street, Enderby, Leicestershire, have both admitted an offence of criminal damage.

The statue, in Northbrook Street, Newbury, Berkshire, was damaged before being stolen shortly after 2am on March 2, Reading Magistrates' Court heard.

The defendants, who are both RAF engineers, committed the offence while drunk on a night out, prosecutor Jamie Renuka told the court.

CCTV footage was shown in court in which the defendants can be seen stopping by the Paddington Bear statue and attempting to lift it off the bench.

The seam of the statue then broke off and the pair could be seen walking off with the broken half.

The pair are due to be sentenced at the same court on Tuesday morning.

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• Thornton