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Man in court over £1m streetlamp thefts

Nicola Hasler,at Stevenage Magistrates' Court,and
Danny Fullbrook
News imageSteve Hubbard/BBC A lamp lit up against the early evening sky. It is tall and thin and there are ornate university buildings on either sideSteve Hubbard/BBC
Police said the stolen items included 1950s street lamps, taken from Cambridge city centre

A man charged with stealing ornate streetlamps worth £1m has appeared in court.

John O'Sullivan, of Barkway, Hertfordshire, appeared at Stevenage Magistrates' Court accused of stealing public lighting fixtures from Hertfordshire, Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire, Essex and the Thames Valley police areas. It included lamps from Cambridge city centre and patio lamps from a McDonald's.

The 20-year-old is yet to enter a plea and is next due to appear at St Albans Crown Court on 2 September.

He has been released on bail with conditions including that he does not touch any street lighting without permission, and honours a curfew keeping him at home between 22:00 and 07:00 BST.

News imagePA Media A long haired man hides his face from the camera with a green shirt he is wearing.PA Media
John O'Sullivan was photographed making an offensive gesture outside the courthouse

His parents Anna O'Sullivan, 66, and Richard O'Sullivan, 67, have been charged with handling stolen goods.

They attended court with their son and are due to make their first appearance at the same magistrates' court on Wednesday, 12 August.

News imageHertfordshire Police A composite image of 10 different streetlamps divided into 10 different images. It shows a vast range of lamps in varying shapes and conditions.Hertfordshire Police
Hertfordshire Police released images of some of the lamps the force recovered, in the hope of reuniting them with their owners

The court heard the alleged thefts included Grade II listed Richardson Candle lamps taken from Cambridge city centre, as well as historic lamps stolen from council buildings, churches and schools.

Other items alleged to have been taken were patio lamps from a McDonald's restaurant in Royston, Hertfordshire.

John O'Sullivan stood in the dock dressed in a green T-shirt and black trousers, and spoke only to confirm his name, address, and date of birth.

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