Rich Man

A Man tried to destroy a Banksy mural after hearing it was being moved from Wales to England, a court heard.

Michael Thomas , 42, tried to break His Way into a Port Talbot building to spray the £500,000 artwork with white paint on 26 November Last Year .

Swansea Crown Court heard Thomas was angry the piece had been sold to a fan of the graffiti artist in London.

Thomas was given a 14 month suspended sentence after admitting attempted burglary and Criminal Damage .

The Image , depicting a child enjoying Snow Falling - The Other side revealing it was from a fire emitting ash - sparked a frenzy after it appeared on a steel worker's garage in 2018, and was later.

The Court heard how Thomas, of Mayfield Road, Port Talbot , tried to break into The Building just days after it was.

Prosecutor Sian Cotter told The Court neighbours called The Police after hearing him breaking a window at 05:30 GMT.

" Witnesses heard him saying, 'It's the only thing in Port Talbot and they are taking it away', " She Said .

" Thomas intended to destroy The Painting so no-one else could have it.

" A couple and their five-year-old child heard the defendant shouting, 'It's for us. They're taking it away, some Rich Man has it'.

" Another witness heard Thomas shouting, 'I'm going to Kill It '. "

The Court heard how Season's Greetings was valued at half-a-million pounds.

Port Talbot council put up a temporary structure around the Banksy after it appeared on the side of a garage in 2018.

Ms Cotter said: " Thomas called police to say he'd committed the damage in anger because he didn't want The Painting to leave Port Talbot .

" He Said The Work was being moved to England and that made him angry so he decided to destroy it. "

Jonathan Tarrant, defending, said it was more of a protest than an act of Criminal Intent and it was unlikely Thomas would reoffend.

Thomas was given a 14-month suspended prison sentence, suspended for two years.

Judge Geraint Walters told him: " There was an intention to move the Banksy artwork out of Port Talbot to the London area, and that angered you.

" It may well be that it was not Banksy's intention that The Painting should ever leave Port Talbot .

" I Am aware the decision to remove The Work has caused consternation in some quarters. "

The Judge said Thomas reacted " bizarrely" by breaking into The Building with the intention of destroying the Banksy.

He added: " This work does now belong to an individual who has had to pay for it.

" The commercial reality is that it is a work of art of great value and now it's in private ownership. "

Thomas was ordered to pay £1,058 compensation and has to wear an electronic tag for 12 weeks.

Source of news: bbc.com