TWO MEN APPEAR AT KINGSTON CROWN COURT OVER BANKSY THEFT
Two men have appeared at Kingston Crown Court today (wed) in connection with the theft of a well-known piece of Banksy artwork.
Larry Fraser, aged 47, from Beckton, east London pleaded guilty to non-residential burglary in relation to the theft of the Banksy print from a gallery in central London.
The limited edition and signed print of ‘Girl with Balloon‘ – one of the Bristol-born artist’s most famous works – was taken from Grove Gallery on New Cavendish Street. London, on 8 September.
The artwork, which had been valued at £270,000, was soon recovered by the Met Police’s Flying Squad.
His defence barrister, Jeffrey Israel, told the court Fraser “owed money to others due to a historic drug debt he was struggling to settle.”
The other defendant, James Love, 54, from North Stifford, near Brentford, was charged with the same offence but denied the charge.
He is due to go on trial at the same court on 15 September next year.
Fraser’s sentencing has been adjourned until after the trial.
The painting was part of an unofficial exhibition of the artist called Breakout: Banksy’s London Rebellion, that featured multiple pieces of work from the artist which had a total value of £1.8m.