John O’Sullivan charged for £1 million streetlamp theft across England

John O’Sullivan, 20, of Barkway, Hertfordshire, has been charged with 38 counts of theft for stealing 45 streetlamps and ornamental lanterns estimated to be worth around £1 million. The thefts occurred in multiple English locations, including Essex, Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire, County Durham, the Thames Valley and Hertfordshire, targeting councils, businesses, churches, schools and private owners. Among the stolen items were Grade II‑listed 1950s Richardson Candles taken from Cambridge city centre. Police recovered about 300 lights at a Barkway property in January 2025.

Anna O’Sullivan, 66, and Richard O’Sullivan, 67, also of Barkway, have been charged with handling the stolen goods. John O’Sullivan is due to appear at Stevenage Magistrates’ Court on 5 August, while the two relatives will appear on 12 August.