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Newbury's Beloved Paddington Bear Statue Recovered By Police. A statue of beloved children's character Paddington Bear has been recovered after it was stolen from its home in Newbury. The statue was unveiled in Newbury, Berkshire - the birthplace of Paddington creator Michael Bond - last October. Locals were distraught, however, when the front half of the statue disappeared at the start of March after two men set upon it. Following a Thames Valley Police investigation, two Royal Air Force engineers were sentenced for damaging and stealing. Daniel Heath and William Lawrence, both aged 22 were sentenced to 12-month community orders after pleading guilty to one count of criminal damage. Inspector Alan Hawkett, said: “The Paddington Bear statue is a beloved part of Newbury so we did everything we could to locate it and bring the offenders to justice.” The statue will now be mended and put back in its rightful home on a bench on Newbury's Northbrook Street. “After a short stay at Newbury police station, we handed the statue back to its owners so it can be restored,” Inspector Hawkett added.