A pair of thugs were sentenced for attacking the Paddington Bear statue in England.

RAF engineers Daniel Heath and William Lawrence, both 22, were seen vanadlisng the iconic character in Newbury.

They were found guilty and were given 12-month community orders after pleading guilty to one count of criminal damage at Reading Magistrates' Court on March 25.

Reports said the drunk pair ripped the statue in Northbrook Street off its bench and walked off with it on March 2, shortly after 2 am. They then caught a ride in a taxi and took it back to RAF Odiham in Hook, Hampshire.

Officers from the Newbury Neighbourhood Policing Team tracked the thieves to the barracks later that day and arrested them, seizing the damaged statue.

The duo were charged the following day.

Inspector Alan Hawkett, of the Newbury Neighbourhood Policing Team, said: 'I am pleased Daniel Heath and William Lawrence have admitted to damaging and stealing the Paddington Bear statue and they have been sentenced accordingly.

'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.

'After a short stay at Newbury police station, we handed the statue back to its owners so it can be restored.

'Criminal damage and theft are serious offences regardless of the target, and we will always look to investigate and have offenders punished proportionately, including being put before the courts.'