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2 Men Arrested for Destroying Beloved Paddington Statue in Author's Hometown

Daniel Heath and William Lawrence, both 22, were each charged with one count of criminal damage.

On Monday, March 3, Daniel Heath and William Lawrence, both 22, were each charged with one count of criminal damage, according to a press release shared by Thames Valley Police. Police alleged the men cut and stole the front part of the statue of the popular children’s book character from Northbrook Street in Newbury, England, around 2 a.m. on Sunday, March 2. The statue of the Peruvian bear, who was seated on a bench holding a marmalade sandwich, was unveiled in Newbury in October 2024 to honor British author Michael Bond's hometown, according to the BBC.

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