Artists heartbroken as police drop vandalism case

Since police dropped the case the South Shields gallery has been graffitied again, the owners said

Two artists said they were in "disbelief" after an investigation into damage caused to their gallery was dropped by police.

The Market Gallery had been due to open in a former Wilko store in South Shields when it was broken into and vandalised. Videos of trespassers in the building were posted online.

Laura Robertson and Theodore Godfrey-Cass said since being told Northumbria Police had dropped the case, the building had been graffitied again and they had been harassed by those they believe are responsible.

The Northumbria force said the case had been dropped due to "evidential difficulties" but inquiries into criminal damage outside the premises were ongoing.

During the break-in in July, walls were graffitied, studio booths damaged and artwork smashed, urinated on or stolen.

The artists sent police the names of those they suspected were the culprits.

"They showed up in an unmarked car to our home and basically said 'there's not enough evidence to prosecute'," Ms Robertson said.

"It was very short-lived and we didn't really feel like we had enough time to ask questions as to why, because we were in such disbelief."

The Market Gallery was graffitied and much of the artwork inside was destroyed or stolen

On the day of the police visit, the artists said those who they suspected arrived at the gallery and made crude gestures while mocking them.

The Market Gallery has since opened but has been forced to move upstairs into the former Wilko's storage area as the ground floor is unusable.

On Wednesday, the artists discovered graffiti had been sprayed on the brickwork and windows around the new entrance on River Drive.

The Market Gallery has been forced to move to another floor of the building because of the damage

They have now contacted police and requested the case be reviewed "in light of the substantial evidence and the continued impact" it is having on them.

"It's just left myself and Theo completely heartbroken," Ms Robertson said.

"There's so much evidence there."

The owners discovered the graffiti sprayed at the gallery entrance on Wednesday

A police spokesperson said the investigation was closed "pending any new information".

"We have since received reports of criminal damage made to the outside of the premises and a public order incident and inquiries remain ongoing," they said.

"While they are at an early stage, we would always keep an open mind as to whether any of the reports could be linked."