“When Paddington Bear arrived in the UK, his great-aunt Lucy pleaded with the British people: ‘Please look after this bear.’ But she could never have imagined that one day her beloved bear statue would end up in the hands of two RAF engineers, Heath and Lawrence, who, under the influence of alcohol, destroyed it in Berkshire,” writes The Guardian.

“Lucky, Lucy’s aunt, has not seen the video footage presented at Reading Magistrates’ Court. The video shows Heath and Lawrence, both 22, smashing the newly installed statue and then running away, taking the half-destroyed part with them.

Judge Sam Goose strongly condemned the defendants: “Your actions are completely contrary to everything that Paddington Bear stands for. This was senseless vandalism. Paddington Bear is a beloved cultural icon for children and adults alike. He embodies kindness and tolerance and promotes community cohesion. His famous tag reads, “Please look after this bear,” but your actions on 2 March 2025 violated those values. You acted disrespectfully and dishonestly towards the values ​​you were supposed to uphold as armed forces members.”

Heath and Lawrence were arrested at RAF Odiham and admitted their guilt during questioning by Thames Valley Police. A piece of the statue was later found in the boot of Lawrence’s car.

The court ordered them to pay £2,725 to cover the costs of restoring the statue and also sentenced them to 12 months of community service, with 150 hours of community work as a condition.