By Lucy Caulkett-
A man has been sentenced to 32 months in prison following a bizarre burglary at one of world-renowned artist Damien Hirst’s studios. Liam Middleton-Gomm was quickly apprehended by police who used an unlikely piece of evidence against him: the GPS tracking data from his own electronic ankle tag.
Damien Hirst. Pic: PA
Middleton-Gomm broke into the Thames Wharf Studios in west London on 30 June. He successfully stole approximately £5,130 worth of valuable goods during his raid. Items taken included electronic devices, unique clothing pieces, and surprisingly, a high-end designer pram. The prosecution, led by Paul Andrews, detailed the 36-year-old’s brazen method of entry at Kingston Crown Court on Thursday.
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The court heard that Middleton-Gomm, who is of no fixed abode, first smashed a window located beside a fire exit door. He then reached inside the building to activate the security shutter, which allowed him full access to the premises.
The burglar reportedly visited the studio on two separate occasions that very same evening. Afterward, he immediately traveled to his father’s property with some of the stolen haul. Among the distinctive property stolen were multiple leather jackets that were actively undergoing embellishment work, alongside bespoke embroidered shirts and trousers.
Crucially, the thief also took a Dior pram, uniquely identifiable by its silver skull detailing on the wheels. Many of these unique properties were subsequently sold on by the burglar and have not been recovered by authorities. The highly unusual circumstances of the break-in have drawn significant public attention, especially since the Hirst Studio Burglar Jailed due to technology meant for his monitoring.
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Police swiftly charged Middleton-Gomm after carefully examining the data pulled directly from his court-mandated GPS ankle tag. Prosecutor Mr. Andrews also confirmed to the court that DNA evidence was successfully gathered and matched at the scene. The data from the ankle tag showed precisely where the burglar was, confirming his presence at the studio during the time of the theft. The Hirst Studio Burglar Jailed outcome was heavily influenced by this irrefutable electronic evidence.
The court considered the involvement of his father, Leslie Gomm, aged 62, from Fulham, who previously pleaded guilty to handling stolen goods for his son’s benefit. Leslie Gomm received a one-year conditional discharge on Thursday. He had already spent three and a half months in custody before his sentencing. The prosecution acknowledged that the elder Gomm did not know the studio was actively being burgled, only that he received the stolen items.
Middleton-Gomm ultimately pleaded guilty to two counts related to burgling Hirst’s riverside studio. Judge Martyn Barklem delivered the sentence, explicitly highlighting the defendant’s blatant disregard for his existing licence conditions. Judge Barklem stated: “You were actually wearing a GPS tag that was part of your licence conditions when you were carrying out these offences.” The judge underscored the severe nature of the aggravating factors present in the case. He added, “Your appalling previous record is of course a serious aggravating factor.”
Court records indicated the defendant has an extensive history of 39 previous convictions for 83 offenses, including numerous prior house burglaries. Middleton-Gomm also received sentences for two other unconnected house burglaries in July, alongside an attempted property burglary on 9 July. The extensive use of technology in criminal monitoring remains a central debate.
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