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Man charged over damaged painting Man charged over damaged painting
(about 19 hours later)
A man has been accused of causing criminal damage to a painting in the National Gallery worth £1.7m. A man has been accused of causing criminal damage to a painting in the National Portrait Gallery worth £1.7m.
Homeless Mark Paton, 44, is accused of damaging the painting of Samuel Johnson by Sir Joshua Reynolds on Wednesday.Homeless Mark Paton, 44, is accused of damaging the painting of Samuel Johnson by Sir Joshua Reynolds on Wednesday.
Mr Paton is accused of striking the oil painting several times with a hammer which was left embedded in the canvas.Mr Paton is accused of striking the oil painting several times with a hammer which was left embedded in the canvas.
He is due before City of Westminster Magistrates Court on Friday. He is also charged with possessing a hammer with intent to cause criminal damage.He is due before City of Westminster Magistrates Court on Friday. He is also charged with possessing a hammer with intent to cause criminal damage.
A spokeswoman for the London gallery said the painting was reparable and is currently being examined by experts.A spokeswoman for the London gallery said the painting was reparable and is currently being examined by experts.
Cost of repairCost of repair
The painting, said by the gallery to be one of its most popular, is part of the permanent collection on the top floor.The painting, said by the gallery to be one of its most popular, is part of the permanent collection on the top floor.
The gallery spokeswoman said they were happy with the security arrangements but added there were no bag checks in place.The gallery spokeswoman said they were happy with the security arrangements but added there were no bag checks in place.
She said there was no obvious reason why the Samuel Johnson painting was singled out.She said there was no obvious reason why the Samuel Johnson painting was singled out.
"Restoration experts are examining the painting and until they have completed that it is difficult to know how much it will cost," she said."Restoration experts are examining the painting and until they have completed that it is difficult to know how much it will cost," she said.
"But it is reparable.""But it is reparable."