A man charged with stealing ornate streetlamps valued at £1m has appeared at Stevenage Magistrates' Court. John O'Sullivan, 20, from Barkway, Hertfordshire, is accused of taking public lighting fixtures from Hertfordshire, Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire, Essex, and the Thames Valley police areas.
The alleged thefts included Grade II listed Richardson Candle lamps from Cambridge city centre, historic lamps from council buildings, churches, and schools, and patio lamps from a McDonald's restaurant in Royston.
Mr O'Sullivan has not yet entered a plea and is scheduled to appear next at St Albans Crown Court on 2 September. He has been released on bail with conditions, including a prohibition on touching any street lighting without permission and a curfew between 22:00 and 07:00 BST.
His parents, Anna O'Sullivan, 66, and Richard O'Sullivan, 67, have been charged with handling stolen goods. They are due to make their first appearance at Stevenage Magistrates' Court on 12 August.