Judge calls two royal air force engineers ‘the antithesis of everything Paddington stands for’
Footage has been released capturing the shocking moment two Royal Air Force engineers broke a newly-installed Paddington Bear statue in half before stealing it from a town centre in Newbury.
Daniel Heath and William Lawrence, both 22 and serving as engineers at RAF Odiham in Hampshire, had been drinking on the night of March 2, 2025, when they damaged the statue in the early hours of the morning.
CCTV footage played at Reading Magistrates’ Court showed the two men approaching the Paddington Bear statue on Northbrook Street at around 2am. The video captured them forcefully pulling at the statue, working together in an attempt to detach the beloved bear from the bench on which it sat. Moments later, they succeeded in breaking it, carrying away part of the damaged figure as they staggered through the town.
‘An act of wanton vandalism’
The pair then took a taxi back to their base at RAF Odiham, bringing the broken Paddington Bear statue with them. It was later discovered hidden in the boot of Lawrence’s car when police arrived to investigate.
Both men were arrested at RAF Odiham the following day and admitted to the offences when questioned by Thames Valley Police.
Appearing in court on Tuesday, Heath, of Oakhall Park, Thornton, West Yorkshire, and Lawrence, of John Street, Enderby, Leicestershire, pleaded guilty to criminal damage.
Sentencing them, District Judge Sam Goozee condemned their behaviour, describing their actions as “an act of wanton vandalism.”
“Paddington Bear is a beloved cultural icon, cherished by children and adults alike,” he said. “He represents kindness, tolerance, and promotes integration and acceptance in our society. His famous label reads: ‘Please look after this bear.’
“On the night of March 2, 2025, your actions were the antithesis of everything Paddington stands for.”
The cost of repairing paddington
The Paddington Bear statue was part of a nationwide Paddington Visits Trail, featuring 23 statues across the UK and Ireland. The judge highlighted the significance of the bear to Newbury, the birthplace of Paddington’s creator, Michael Bond.
“In what can only be described as an act of sheer disrespect, the CCTV footage shows the two of you forcibly removing the front facade of the Paddington statue,” Judge Goozee continued.
Prosecutor Jaimie Renuka informed the court that the costs of repairing the damage to the statue amounted to £5,451.
Trish Willetts, chief executive of Newbury Business Improvement District (BID), which owns the statue, provided a statement in which she described how the community was left devastated by the vandalism.
“The remaining half of the Paddington Bear statue had to be wrapped in a bin bag to avoid upsetting children,” she said.
RAF engineers ‘ashamed’ of their actions
Defence lawyer Tom Brymer told the court that both men were deeply ashamed of what they had done.
“They have been incredibly stupid and regret their actions immensely,” he said. “They are young men who, despite this mistake, have a future ahead of them in the RAF. What we saw on CCTV is not representative of their character.”
As part of their sentencing, the pair were each ordered to pay £2,725 in compensation for the damage caused.
Judge Goozee also sentenced them to a 12-month community order and instructed them to complete 150 hours of unpaid work as “payback to the community for your actions.”
Future in the RAF uncertain
The court heard that Heath and Lawrence’s squadron leader had spoken positively of their work ethic and commitment to the Royal Air Force.
“The RAF recognises your strong promise for the future,” the judge noted. “However, I do not know what impact this conviction will have on your careers—that will be a matter for another tribunal.”
It remains unclear whether disciplinary action will be taken by the RAF in response to the conviction.
An RAF spokesperson acknowledged the court ruling, stating: “We are aware that two service personnel have pleaded guilty to one count of criminal damage and have been sentenced to 12-month community orders at Reading Magistrates’ Court.”
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Police condemn ‘mindless’ crime
Thames Valley Police Inspector Alan Hawkett, of the Newbury Neighbourhood Policing Team, expressed satisfaction with the outcome of the case.
“I am pleased Daniel Heath and William Lawrence have admitted their wrongdoing and have been sentenced accordingly,” he said.
“The Paddington Bear statue is a cherished part of Newbury, and we took every step necessary to locate it and ensure those responsible were brought to justice.
“After a short stay at Newbury police station, we returned the statue to its rightful owners so it can be restored.
“Criminal damage and theft are serious offences, no matter the target, and we will always investigate thoroughly to hold offenders accountable.”
With the legal proceedings concluded, efforts will now focus on restoring the beloved Paddington Bear statue to its former glory.
