His plans were scuppered after police tracked his court-issued tag to the studio
A son burgled a Damien Hirst art studio in West London and then stored the goods at his father’s house. His plans were scuppered after police tracked his court-issued tag to the studio.
Liam Middleton-Gomm, 36, of Cactus Walk, East Acton, was jailed for two years and eight months for the burglary. His father, 61-year-old Leslie Gomm, of Bloom Park Road, Hammersmith, was also jailed for one year conditional discharge for handling stolen goods.
Middleton-Gomm broke into the studio on Rainville Road, Hammersmith, and stole a number of high-value artworks including customised jackets designed by Damien Hirst on Monday, June 30. He then travelled to and stayed at the home of his father, Leslie Gomm.
PC Max Aldred, who led the Met’s investigation, said: “As soon as Liam Middleton-Gomm knew police were looking for him, he cut off his tag and went on the run – he knew officers would be able to pin him to the location of the crime.
“The data-sharing agreement between police and the Ministry of Justice is vital when both parties work together to find and prosecute offenders. It means that criminal suspects are more likely to be identified – and now have even fewer places to run to.”
Photographs of some of the stolen items were found on Leslie Gomm’s phone and investigators discovered that in the hours following the burglary Gomm had carried out Google searches for terms including ‘Damien Hirst’ and ‘leather jackets’.
Middleton-Gomm was wearing a court tag when he broke into the art studio, which police used to determine that he was present at the time and location of the incident. After he realised this, Middleton-Gomm removed his tage after the burglary and fled.
DNA and data from the tag proved Middleton-Gomm was at the studio at the time of the break-in. MIddleton-Gomm was arrested on Saturday, August 23 and charged on Monday, August 25 with burglary and attempted burglary.
He pleaded guilty to the burglary on Friday, October 17 at Wimbledon Magistrates’ Court. Leslie Gomm was arrested on Monday, July 7 and charged on Wednesday, July 9 with handling stolen goods.
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