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A MAN was caught trying to deliver the Olympic spirit to Belvedere with his very own golden touch.
The gold-fingered 38-year-old was caught red-handed by police officers in Station Road at 2:50am on Wednesday (August 8) giving a red Royal Mail pillar box a lick of paint.
Bexley Police’s response team officers first approached the man when they saw him behind the post box, on the corner of Station Road and Picardy Road.
He was found to be holding a paint brush and a roller and had a white plastic bucket on the ground, half-filled with gold paint.
A tub of Hammerite gold paint was found in his van nearby.
The police officers arrested the man and during police interview, he said: “I’m sorry for what I was doing.
“It was meant to be a bit of fun and part of the Olympic fever.”
Today, the post box remains half gold and half red, as the man was unable to complete the job he started before he was detained by the police.
Officers estimated damage to the post box would cost Royal Mail approximately £300 but the man was released the following day with a caution.
Royal Mail’s patriotic gold post boxes have certainly caused a stir since Team GB began revelling in Olympic success at London 2012.
The postal service has painted one traditional red pillar box in bright gold paint in the home town of each gold medal winning athlete.
In Sheffield, the hometown of heptathlon superstar Jess Ennis, graffiti was scrawled on the shimmering beacon of success within days of its makeover.
Is the gold post box in Belvedere your work of art? Or do you know who the painter is?
Call the newsroom on 01689 885726 or email awoods@london.newsquest.co.uk
