Two men have been charged with criminal damage after a Paddington Bear statue in the hometown of his author was damaged and stolen from a high street bench. The sculpture was ripped from his seat in Northbrook Street, Newbury, at about 2am on Sunday morning, according to Thames Valley Police. The force announced on Sunday evening that it had recovered the statue, adding that Paddington was “heading to Newbury police station for a much-needed marmalade sandwich”.
The discovery came as two 22-year-old men were arrested on suspicion of theft and criminal damage. After being held overnight they were today charged in connection with the vandalism. Daniel Heath, 22, of Thornton, West Yorkshire, and William Lawrence, aged 22, of Enderby, Leicestershire, are both charged with one count of criminal damage and have been released on conditional bail to appear before Reading Magistrates’ Court on 25 March.
The theft of the Peruvian bear, holding one of his beloved marmalade sandwiches, sparked upset in Newbury where it has become a tourist attraction since being unveiled in the Berkshire town by Paddington creator Michael Bond last October.
It was one of 23 celebrating the children’s character placed across the UK last year as part of the Paddington Visits trail, ahead of the StudioCanal film Paddington in Peru.
A pink tent had been placed around Paddington’s bench in Northbrook Street while police investigated the alleged crime.
Following the discovery of the theft Insp Alan Hawkett of Thames Valley Police said: “The Paddington Bear statue is a beloved part of Newbury so we have been doing everything we can to locate it and the offenders.”
The force said it would keep the sculpture safe and support its restoration.
Residents in the town earlier expressed their dismay at the theft, saying he was “a lovely addition to Newbury”.
Christopher Gibbins said he had seen the damaged remains of the statue at about 8am on Sunday while out on a walk.
He said: “I was very sad to see it had happened as he made a lot of people in the town very happy.”
Many locals took to social media, sharing pictures they had taken with Paddington.
“To some it may not seem like a big deal but he was such a little ray of sunshine, walking to work or taking my small kids into town, he just brought a smile to people,” Whitney Burnett wrote.
Juliet Curtis said: “I find it especially sad as Newbury is the home town of the author Michael Bond. How upset he would have been.”
The community page Snapped Newbury & Thatcham commented: “How disgusting that someone would deface our Newbury town Paddington statue.”
Newbury Business Improvement District (BID) brought Paddington to Newbury in October 2024, in partnership with STUDIOCANAL as part of its national Paddington Visits trail.
Trish Willetts, CEO at Newbury BID says: “Our thoughts today echo the overwhelming response from the public.
“We are shocked and heartbroken to see such a senseless act of vandalism has taken place in our charming market town.
“While this is a truly sad moment for Newbury, the outpouring of support seen online really highlights the strong community spirit that defines our town.”
