TWO RAF ground crew are due in court next week over the disappearance of a Paddington Bear statue.
Half the fibreglass model of the much-loved children’s character was ripped from a town bench this month.
David HartleyTwo RAF ground crew are due in court next week over the disappearance of a Paddington Bear statue (pictured: Mayor of Newbury Andy Moore)[/caption]
The statue was ripped from a bench in Newbury, Berks, on Sunday, March 2
Daniel Heath and William Lawrence, both 22, have since been charged with criminal damage and will go before magistrates in Reading, Berks, on Tuesday.
Police said Heath was from Thornton, West Yorks, and Lawrence from Enderby, Leics.
However, The Sun understands they are based at RAF Odiham in Hampshire, where they work as engineers on the Chinook helicopter fleet.
An RAF spokesperson said: “We are aware that two service personnel have been arrested for alleged theft and criminal damage.
“However, we are unable to comment while legal proceedings are ongoing.”
The Paddington statue — complete with his trademark marmalade sandwich — disappeared from the bench in Newbury, Berks, at around 2am on Sunday, March 2.
Only the back and rear part of the legs of the model — one of 23 installed across the country as part of a Paddington trail to mark the release of the latest film last year — were left behind.
The scene was covered with a tent and “mourners” left jars of marmalade, sandwiches and poems where the colourful bear used to sit.
The beloved Peruvian character has a special connection to Newbury as creator Michael Bond was born there in 1926.
The missing part of the statue was later was recovered by police.
Inspector Alan Hawkett joked: “Paddington is heading to Newbury police station for a much-needed marmalade sandwich.”
He also said the force would “keep it safe and support its restoration to its rightful place in Northbrook Street.”
But the case attracted headlines around the world and sparked anger on social media, with local Lib Dem MP Lee Dillon saying it was “heartbreaking to see that Paddington has been vandalised”.
He added: “This senseless damage is so disappointing.”
A similar statue in Ashby, Leicestershire, was removed this week due to vandalism.
PA:Press AssociationThe pair work as engineers on the Chinook helicopter fleet[/caption]
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