A MAN who stole a bronze lady figurine from an art gallery worth more than £400 left it on the bus on his way home.

Gary Bown, aged 56, from Brownen Road, Bournemouth, stole the figurine from Whitewall Galleries in Westover Road on October 16 last year.

At Poole Magistrates’ Court, Bown pleaded guilty to the theft but said he was “so drunk” he doesn’t remember committing the offence.

The court heard that Bown got very drunk after discovering a friend of his was very unwell and stole the figurine which cost £425.

James Moore, defending, said: “He was upset about the condition of his friend and took it in a moment of rashness.

“The only thing he remembers from that day was being on the bus when he thinks he may have had the item with him.

“However he was so intoxicated that he then left it on the bus.”

Bown was recognised on the gallery’s CCTV and arrested. He told the court he was “disgusted with himself”.

He was given an 18-month conditional discharge and ordered to pay £425 compensation and £85 costs.