London: A man who stole one of British street artist Banksy’s most famous works, “Girl with Balloon,” from a London gallery, has been sentenced to 13 months in prison. Larry Fraser, 49, used a hammer to break into the Grove Gallery in Fitzrovia, central London, to steal signed prints in the dead of night in September.
According to Thai News Agency, the artwork, which police say is worth £270,000 (approximately 12.3 million baht), depicts a young girl reaching for a red heart-shaped balloon. Despite trying to conceal his identity by wearing a mask, Fraser was caught on CCTV and police tracked him down two days after the robbery. He pleaded guilty in October and was sentenced to 13 months in prison at Kingston Crown Court on Friday.
Detective Inspector Scott Mather stated that Banksy’s “Girl with a Balloon” was known around the world, and police took immediate action not only to bring Fraser to justice but also to return the artwork to the gallery. The painting “Girl with Balloon” first appeared on the streets of London’s Shoreditch in 2002, with Banksy creating versions of the painting in London’s South Bank in 2004 and on the Israeli barrier in the West Bank in 2005.
Banksy is renowned for his politically charged outdoor graffiti. Originally from a small-time graffiti artist in Bristol, England, his work has become extremely popular and highly prized.