March 17, 2016 9.20 am This story is over 95 months old

Arrest warrant issued for man who stole painting from Lincoln art gallery

An arrest warrant has been issued for a Lincoln man who stole a painting from an art gallery in the city. Steven Mclean, 39, was one of two men who each made off with a painting after walking in to the Little Red Gallery on Bailgate. Lincoln Magistrates’ Court heard the pair simply put the…

An arrest warrant has been issued for a Lincoln man who stole a painting from an art gallery in the city.

Steven Mclean, 39, was one of two men who each made off with a painting after walking in to the Little Red Gallery on Bailgate.

Lincoln Magistrates’ Court heard the pair simply put the paintings under their clothing and fled after going in together.

The paintings were valued at £675 and £495 but it was unclear from CCTV footage which item Mclean had stolen.

Mclean, of Riseholme Road, Lincoln, admitted a charge of theft.

He also pleaded guilty to the burglary of a non-dwelling property in nearby Hereward Street, Lincoln, on December 16.

The owner of the building, which was not being lived in, discovered there had been an intruder after noticing a smashed door panel and a brick nearby, the court heard.

A stack of tiles had been knocked over in the bathroom and blood matching Mclean’s DNA was found on a kitchen socket.

The owner estimated the repair costs at £450.

Tony Freitas, mitigating, said Mclean made full and frank admissions to the police.

Freitas told the court: “He had no idea when he took the painting of its value. He said he just liked it.

“He had problems with benefit payments and acted out of stupidity. He has problems with alcohol.”

Addressing the court himself Mclean said: “I’ve been cutting my alcohol down. I am on medication, you can’t just stop it like that.”

Deputy District Judge David Gostling adjourned the case for an immediate probation assessment on Mclean after indicating he was considering a suspended jail term and alcohol treatment.

But Mclean failed to appear when the case was called back on Wednesday, March 16 for sentence, and the judge issued a bench warrant for his arrest.

He will be sentenced at a later date.