A man has been charged with stealing £1 million worth of streetlamps and ornate lanterns from across England, with County Durham among the areas targeted.
Charges and Alleged Crimes
John O'Sullivan, 20, has been charged with 38 counts of theft in several areas, including Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire, Thames Valley, Essex, Hertfordshire, and County Durham. He is also accused of seven additional theft offences in these locations, committed between September 17, 2025, and March 17, 2026.
According to Hertfordshire Police, the lamps were stolen from multiple victims, including councils, businesses, churches, schools, and private individuals. Among the alleged thefts are Grade II listed 1950s streetlamps, known as Richardson Candles, taken from Cambridge city centre.
Court Appearances
O'Sullivan is due to appear at Stevenage Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday, August 5. Two other individuals, Anna O’Sullivan, 66, and Richard O’Sullivan, 67, from Barkway, have been charged with handling stolen goods. They are set to appear at the same court a week later, on Wednesday, August 12.
