Beckton man jailed for stealing Banksy print in Fitzrovia

Key Points

• Larry Fraser, 49, from Beckton, East London, sentenced to 13 months for stealing a Banksy print.
• Theft occurred at Grove Gallery, Fitzrovia, last September during a break-in.
• The stolen print belonged to Banksy’s Girl With Balloon series, valued at approximately £270,000.
• Fraser took the print to settle a historical drug debt.
• The artwork was recovered undamaged by Metropolitan Police Flying Squad within four days.
• James Love, 54, was acquitted of involvement as an alleged getaway driver.
• Fraser pleaded guilty; cited pressure and fear relating to his drug debt.
• Fraser has 18 previous convictions, last recorded in 2002.
• Judge Anne Brown ruled the offence too serious for a suspended sentence.
• Grove Gallery praised police professionalism and swift recovery of artwork.

What happened in the Banksy print theft case?

As reported by Philip Stott, prosecuting at Kingston Crown Court, Larry Fraser broke into the Grove Gallery in Fitzrovia, central London, on the evening of 8 September 2024. CCTV footage showed Fraser waiting outside the gallery for approximately ten minutes before repeatedly smashing the glass door with a heavy blunt object, gaining entry around 11pm.

Once inside, Fraser headed directly to a signed and numbered Banksy print from the Girl With Balloon series, part of a £1.5 million exhibition featuring 13 Banksy pieces. He stole the artwork and concealed it in a building located in London Docklands. The Metropolitan Police’s Flying Squad recovered the print just four days later, on 12 September, after a tip-off from a third party. The print was returned without damage.

Why was Larry Fraser motivated to steal the artwork?

According to Fraser’s basis of plea, explained to the court, he was motivated by a historic drug debt he owed and was trying to pay off. He admitted committing the burglary under what he described as “a degree of pressure and fear.” Fraser stated he did not know the exact target or value of the gallery’s contents until the day of the offence.

Judge Anne Brown said:

“Whilst you did not know the precise value of the print, you obviously understood it to be very valuable.”

She acknowledged the planning involved but noted this was “not your plan” and condemned the offending as “brazen and serious.”

What was Larry Fraser’s criminal background?

The court heard that Fraser had 18 previous convictions, with the most recent in 2002, relating to robbery and unlawful wounding. Fraser had been released from prison in 2008 and lived relatively trouble-free since then. Jeffrey Israel, Fraser’s defence barrister, highlighted that Fraser had successfully broken his cycle of drug addiction after his previous imprisonment and was now the principal carer for his mother.

Israel told the court:

“It would take a bold advocate to suggest that the value of the print had increased by what happened to it, but that is probably the reality.”

What sentence did Larry Fraser receive?

Judge Anne Brown sentenced Fraser to 13 months in prison, stating the offence was “simply too serious” for a suspended sentence. Fraser pleaded guilty to one count of burglary and may be eligible for immediate release due to time spent on electronic curfew prior to sentencing.

What happened to the other accused in the case?

James Love, aged 54, was tried for aiding the burglary as the alleged getaway driver but was cleared following the trial. The court found no evidence to implicate Love in the theft.

How did the police respond to the theft?

Detective Chief Inspector Scott Mather from the Metropolitan Police Flying Squad emphasised the swift action taken to resolve the case. As quoted in The Guardian by journalist Eleanor Barlow, he said:

“Banksy’s Girl with Balloon is known across the world – and we reacted immediately to not just bring Fraser to justice but also reunite the artwork with the gallery.”

He praised the dedication of Flying Squad officers, noting:

“The speed at which this took place is a testament to the tireless work of the Flying Squad officers – in total it took just four days for normality to be restored.”

What was the gallery’s reaction to the recovery of the artwork?

Lindor Mehmetaj, the 29-year-old manager of the Grove Gallery, expressed deep relief and gratitude to the police upon the recovery of the stolen Banksy print. Speaking to the Evening Standard’s arts correspondent Alison Walters, Mehmetaj said:

“I was completely, completely shocked, but in a very, very positive way when the Flying Squad showed me the actual artwork.”

He described the impact of the theft and subsequent recovery:

“It’s very hard to put into words, the weight that comes off your shoulders.”

Mehmetaj further praised the professionalism of the officers:

“The way that they dealt with it from the moment they arrived on the scene: pragmatic, logical, very composed and ultimately professional. But also, to have the artwork recovered after it had been robbed from us is remarkable.”