Advertisement

We need your help now

Support from readers like you keeps The Journal open.

You are visiting us because we have something you value. Independent, unbiased news that tells the truth. Advertising revenue goes some way to support our mission, but this year it has not been enough.

If you've seen value in our reporting, please contribute what you can, so we can continue to produce accurate and meaningful journalism. For everyone who needs it.

Men jailed for staging 'fake robbery' at art gallery as part of Youtube prank

The four men enacted fake art robberies at two major London art galleries in the same afternoon.

Two of the gang in action Metropolitan Police Metropolitan Police

FOUR MEN WHO staged a series of ‘fake’ robberies at London museums last year have been jailed.

The men staged the robberies at the National Portrait Gallery and Tate Gallery on 5 July 2015.

The first prank, at the National Portrait Gallery happened at 3.30pm on that date. Five men burst into the gallery and began shouting and screaming.

The men had entered the gallery wearing masks and carrying artwork props which they promptly left with.

The incident is captured in dramatic CCTV footage which shows panic taking hold of the museum’s patrons following the arrival of the men.

TheJournal.ie / YouTube

The men proceeded to repeat the offence at the Tate Gallery later that afternoon.

Four of the five men were arrested on the same day and pleaded guilty to the public order offences of causing fear and provoking violence.

The four (27-year-old Daniel Jarvis, 20-year-old Endit Ferizolli, 29-year-old Ebenezer Mensah, and 23-year-old Helder Gomes) were given sentences of between 12 and 20 weeks each.

Daniel Raymond Marcus Jarvis Daniel Jarvis Metropolitan Police Metropolitan Police

Helder Gomes Helder Gomes Metropolitan Police Metropolitan Police

The fifth man, 31-year-old Dan Vahn Lee was jailed in March for 12 weeks for his role in the initial National Portrait Gallery incident.

“The actions of these five men was outrageous,” said Detective Constable Anthony Parke of the Metropolitan Police.

To go into busy public places wearing masks shouting and screaming at a time of heightened awareness of the terrorism threat facing the UK is deplorable.
The group terrified those visiting the galleries. It is only by pure chance that no one was injured or suffered serious health issues as they fled in what the judge described as a stampede. All five men now have a number of weeks in jail to consider just how unfunny their stunts actually were.

Read: Sinead O’Connor has been found safe and well

Read: Weather forecaster plays down being made cover the dress she was wearing live on air

Readers like you are keeping these stories free for everyone...
A mix of advertising and supporting contributions helps keep paywalls away from valuable information like this article. Over 5,000 readers like you have already stepped up and support us with a monthly payment or a once-off donation.

Close
30 Comments
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Caroline Barrett
    Favourite Caroline Barrett
    Report
    May 16th 2016, 10:28 PM

    Do that in a gallery in the U.S. and you won’t be walking out of it. Idiots.

    246
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Ziggy722
    Favourite Ziggy722
    Report
    May 16th 2016, 10:21 PM

    Take the Monet and Run.

    172
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Josephine Sweeney
    Favourite Josephine Sweeney
    Report
    May 16th 2016, 10:36 PM

    Fecking YouTubers

    78
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute windbag
    Favourite windbag
    Report
    May 16th 2016, 11:35 PM

    The mind boggles…

    24
    See 1 more reply ▾
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Deborah Behan
    Favourite Deborah Behan
    Report
    May 17th 2016, 12:30 AM

    Seriously

    9
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Mark Malone
    Favourite Mark Malone
    Report
    May 16th 2016, 10:37 PM

    I’ll bet they thought they were hilarious.

    106
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Avina Laaf
    Favourite Avina Laaf
    Report
    May 17th 2016, 12:23 AM

    In fairness they have given everyone a laugh, just not in the way they’d hoped.

    57
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Just Some Guy
    Favourite Just Some Guy
    Report
    May 16th 2016, 10:22 PM

    good enough for the idiots

    94
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Eyepopper
    Favourite Eyepopper
    Report
    May 16th 2016, 11:01 PM

    Theyd barely get that for doing it for real here.

    68
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Philip Farrelly
    Favourite Philip Farrelly
    Report
    May 16th 2016, 10:23 PM

    Fcuk n eejits

    66
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute The Girl
    Favourite The Girl
    Report
    May 16th 2016, 10:39 PM

    Welcome to the age of smart tech and stupid people..

    91
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Des Doran
    Favourite Des Doran
    Report
    May 16th 2016, 11:44 PM

    Maybe they can fake it in the prison showers,
    You tube Bitches

    34
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Jason Twomey
    Favourite Jason Twomey
    Report
    May 17th 2016, 7:24 AM

    These type of YouTube morons think “it’s just a prank bro” is an excuse to steal, harass, and molest.

    33
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Jason Twomey
    Favourite Jason Twomey
    Report
    May 17th 2016, 8:15 AM

    Or “we’re like, conducting a social experiment like”.

    21
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Cormacklemore
    Favourite Cormacklemore
    Report
    May 17th 2016, 12:26 AM

    Bake them away toys

    22
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Jason Twomey
    Favourite Jason Twomey
    Report
    May 17th 2016, 8:15 AM

    Dig up, stupid.

    4
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Daisy Chainsaw
    Favourite Daisy Chainsaw
    Report
    May 16th 2016, 11:33 PM

    Such Bantasaurases! Chortle, eh?

    Idiots.

    15
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute AntiTreeHugger
    Favourite AntiTreeHugger
    Report
    May 17th 2016, 12:23 AM

    They could of been shot dead.

    10
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Michael Sands
    Favourite Michael Sands
    Report
    May 17th 2016, 4:32 PM

    But would that be art???

    1
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Michael Sands
    Favourite Michael Sands
    Report
    May 17th 2016, 2:47 AM

    The grease on your hands can damage artwork and that can ruin pieces of art forever. That is why in galleries they wear gloves handling artwork. STUPID EEJITS.

    7
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Michael Sands
    Favourite Michael Sands
    Report
    May 17th 2016, 2:48 AM

    DROPPING THEM DOES HELP EITHER…

    3
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Sheila Leahy
    Favourite Sheila Leahy
    Report
    May 17th 2016, 7:47 AM

    They didn’t touch any art works, they bought props with them. Did you read the article?

    35
    See 1 more reply ▾
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Michael Sands
    Favourite Michael Sands
    Report
    May 17th 2016, 4:32 PM

    Sheila look at the top picture they are not handling them with their feet lol. I worked in a gallery and I can see in the first picture that one has his hand directly on the painting and the other on the frame, they both do…

    1
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Dave Murray
    Favourite Dave Murray
    Report
    May 17th 2016, 6:21 AM

    Ebenezer Mensah isn’t feeling to brainy now.

    6
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Dave Murray
    Favourite Dave Murray
    Report
    May 17th 2016, 6:21 AM

    *too

    4
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Brian M
    Favourite Brian M
    Report
    May 16th 2016, 11:23 PM

    Do it again, only Thomas Crown style

    5
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Gareth Cooney
    Favourite Gareth Cooney
    Report
    May 16th 2016, 11:53 PM

    You tube should pay the cost of the states legal fees……..

    4
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Cool Lights
    Favourite Cool Lights
    Report
    May 17th 2016, 1:18 AM

    Emre Can?

    2
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Kizzi Yeates
    Favourite Kizzi Yeates
    Report
    May 17th 2016, 10:51 AM

    Hahahaha

    1
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Joe Dobias
    Favourite Joe Dobias
    Report
    May 18th 2016, 11:50 PM

    Troll station live from jail

    1
Submit a report
Please help us understand how this comment violates our community guidelines.
Thank you for the feedback
Your feedback has been sent to our team for review.
JournalTv
Video Player is loading.
Current Time 0:00
Duration 0:00
Loaded: 0%
Stream Type LIVE
Remaining Time 0:00
 
1x
    • descriptions off, selected
    • captions off, selected
      News in 60 seconds