Man who stole Banksy print to pay off drug debt given 13-month sentence

"Larry Fraser, 49, stole the limited edition print belonging to the street artist's Girl With Balloon series after breaking into the Grove gallery in Fitzrovia, central London, last September. Sentencing him on Friday, Judge Brown said: This is a brazen and serious non-domestic burglary. Kingston crown court heard Fraser, who pleaded guilty to one count of burglary, may be eligible for immediate release due to time spent on electronic curfew."

"The artwork had been part of an exhibition showcasing a 1.5m collection of 13 Banksy pieces at the gallery and was quickly recovered by officers from the Metropolitan police's flying squad. The defendant, of Beckton, east London, was seen on CCTV waiting outside the gallery for about 10 minutes on 8 September last year, before repeatedly smashing the glass door with a heavy blunt object, Philip Stott, prosecuting, told the court."

"He said when Fraser gained access to the building, at about 11pm, he went straight to the artwork, which was a signed and numbered print. Stott said: The defendant was taken to a location in London Docklands and the artwork was secreted inside a building there. It was later recovered shortly after, on 12 September, after information was passed to the police by a third party. The value of the print, which was returned without damage, was approximately 270,000, he added."

Larry Fraser, 49, broke into the Grove gallery in Fitzrovia in September and stole a limited edition signed and numbered Banksy print from the Girl With Balloon series. CCTV captured Fraser waiting outside, smashing the glass door, entering about 11pm and heading straight to the artwork. Police recovered the print undamaged on 12 September after information from a third party; the print's value was approximately £270,000. Fraser pleaded guilty to burglary, stating he acted under pressure to pay a historic drug debt and faced a degree of fear. He received a 13-month prison sentence and may be eligible for immediate release due to time on electronic curfew. A second man accused as a getaway driver was cleared at trial.

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