Father and son sentenced following art heist

A man who removed his court-issued tag to avoid being caught after burgling an art studio in Hammersmith has received a prison sentence.

On Monday, 30 June Liam Middleton-Gomm broke into a premises on Rainville Road, Hammersmith and stole a number of high-value artworks including customised jackets designed by renowned British artist, Damien Hirst.

After leaving the premises Middleton-Gomm travelled to and stayed at the home of his father, Leslie Gomm. During the Met’s investigation 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 carried out Google searches for terms including ‘Damien Hirst’ and ‘leather jackets.’

Yesterday afternoon (Thursday, 30 October) at Kingston Crown Court, Liam Middleton-Gomm was sentenced to 2 years and 8 months in prison for burglary.

At the same court Leslie Gomm was sentenced to a one year conditional discharge for handling stolen goods.

A key piece of evidence in the investigation was a court tag, which Middleton-Gomm was wearing when he broke into the art studio on Monday, 30 June. A jury at Kingston Crown Court were told that DNA evidence and data from the tag proved he was at the premises at the time of the burglary.

Modern electronic tags often include GPS functionality, which continuously records the wearer’s location. This meant investigators were able to determine that Middleton-Gomm was present at the time and location of the incident. Realising this, Middleton-Gomm removed his tag after the burglary and fled.

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."

Minister of State for Prisons, Probation and Reducing Reoffending, Lord Timpson, said: “Our GPS tags send a clear message to offenders - if you break the law, we’ll know where you’ve been and justice will come for you.

“This case proves just how effective tags can be and we’re increasing their use to punish offenders, prevent crime and make our streets safer.”

Middleton-Gomm, 36 (09.01.1989) of Cactus Walk, East Acton, was arrested on Saturday, 23 August and charged on Monday, 25 August with burglary and attempted burglary.

He pleaded guilty to the burglary on Friday, 17 October at Wimbledon Magistrates' Court.

His father, Leslie Gomm, 61 (05.09.1963) of Bloom Park Road, Hammersmith, was arrested on Monday, 7 July and later charged on Wednesday, 9 July with handling stolen goods.

He pleaded guilty to handling stolen goods on Wednesday, 9 July at Westminster Magistrates' Court.