Man admits stealing Banksy artwork from gallery

A man has pleaded guilty to stealing a Banksy print from a gallery in central London.

The limited edition and signed print of Girl with Balloon, one of the secretive artist's most famous works, was taken from Grove Gallery on New Cavendish Street late on 8 September.

The artwork, which had been valued at £270,000, was soon recovered by the Met Police’s Flying Squad.

At Kingston Crown Court on Wednesday, Larry Fraser, 47, from Beckton, east London, admitted non-residential burglary.

His defence barrister, Jeffrey Israel, told the court Fraser “owed money to others due to a historic drug debt he was struggling to settle”.

James Love, 54, from North Stifford, in Grays, Essex, was charged with the same offence but denied the charge.

He is due to go on trial at the same court on 15 September next year.

Fraser’s sentencing has been adjourned until after the trial.

The painting was part of an unofficial exhibition of the artist called Breakout: Banksy’s London Rebellion, that featured multiple pieces of work from the artist which had a total value of £1.8m.

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