A builder accused of stealing a Banksy print worth £270,000 from a central London gallery has been acquitted.
James Love, 54, of North Stifford, Essex, was found not guilty of burglary at Kingston crown court following a week-long trial. He had been accused of conspiring with his long-time acquaintance Larry Fraser, 48, who admitted carrying out the raid.
Fraser was captured on CCTV last September smashing the glass door of the Grove Gallery in Fitzrovia before making off with Girl with Balloon, a limited-edition print by the anonymous street artist. The theft took little more than 30 seconds.
The damage caused to the front door of the Grove Gallery in Fitzrovia on Sept 8, 2024
Prosecutors alleged that Love had acted as getaway driver and later helped conceal the artwork, pointing to phone records showing frequent contact between the men and CCTV footage of him assisting Fraser with a van.
Love, who has known Fraser for 20 years, told jurors that he had been duped. He said he only realised what had happened when Fraser arrived with the stolen print, and insisted he was “furious” at being implicated. He admitted helping move the artwork but later directed police to where it had been hidden at a block of flats on the Isle of Dogs.
The Banksy print formed part of a £1.5 million exhibition of 13 works at the gallery and was swiftly recovered by officers from the Metropolitan Police’s Flying Squad.
Fraser is due to return to Kingston crown court on Thursday when a date for sentencing will be set.