Pair took selfies as they burgled Eden Project

TWO burglars twice raided The Eden Project posing for pictures in selfie booths and climbing a 30-metre tower.

Roxanne Bamber, 25, and Nathan Watson, 33, caused tens of thousands of pounds worth of damage during their two raids within the space of a month.

Bamber and Watson appeared at Truro Crown Court having pleaded guilty to two burglary counts.

Prosecuting the case, Ian Graham described how on February 9, 2020, staff at Hangloose Adventure, a business running the zip wire and other activities within Eden, finished work and went home.

The following day a duty manager discovered that a burglary had taken place. The management team noticed mess on the floor and CCTV showed a male and female entering, gaining access by cutting ropes then climbing into one of the biomes.

Bamber and Watson could be seen going through the cafe and stealing items from the gift shop. They were even spotted leaving wearing Eden caps but not before stopping for a picture in a selfie booth. On this occasion they stole £200 worth of gifts and food as well as causing substantial damage.

Then, after the night of March 8 and 9, Hangloose staff discovered they had been burgled once more.

CCTV again showed a male and female in the grounds. They walked towards a 30-metre platform, in the process stealing a strimmer worth £400.

Bamber and Watson climbed over safety barriers and made their way to the top of the platform. They were pictured on a selfie screen at the top and then removed a TV worth £150, which they lowered to the ground using ropes they had cut.

The defendants then carried on to Eden itself and, once in the Mediterranean biome, stole food from the cafe.

They forced their way into a link corridor and stole iPads and speakers worth £490. They again raided a gift shop of £590 worth of stock and caused £20,000 damage to a biome panel they cut to gain access.

The court heard how Bamber and Watson were stopped on the M5 on their way back to Lancashire and that a lot of the stolen property has never been recovered.

Bamber had no previous convictions, whereas Watson has an extensive criminal past, including for burglary.

Representing both Bamber and Watson, Francesca Whebell said: “They were taking drugs to numb out their childhoods and past. They were heavily under the influence at the time of the offences and there was very little sophistication as they left a clear and obvious trail.

“They’d hit rock bottom and had been homeless. They were living in a vehicle and are exceptionally remorseful.”

Ms Whebell added that the pair have since got themselves a flat and Watson is now in work, whereas Bamber is keenly on the lookout for a job.

Sentencing the pair, both from Lancashire, Recorder John Trevaskis reiterated that the businesses affected lost a substantial amount of money and that it was a deliberate targeting of the business.

He went on to sentence Watson to two years in prison, suspended for two years, and a rehabilitation activity requirement.

Bamber was given a 16-month sentence suspended for two years.