The true identity of the infamous and elusive street artist Banksy has been revealed after decades-old arrest records were unearthed.
Investigators discovered a handwritten confession signed during a 2000 arrest in New York, when the artist was detained for vandalising a Marc Jacobs billboard during Fashion Week.
Police records and court documents from the incident list the name Robin Gunningham, who investigators now believe is the man behind Banksy.
Mr Gunningham, a 51-year-old from Bristol, was first linked to the artist in 2008 - an accusation his management denied at the time.
Following the recent disclosures, Banksy's company, Pest Control, stated the artist "has decided to say nothing".
The arrest occurred when the street artist targeted the billboard atop a brownstone building on Hudson Street in Manhattan bearing the slogan "Boys Love Marc Jacobs".
Steve Lazarides, the photographer who formerly managed Banksy, recounted that the artist altered the billboard by adding "goofy teeth" to the model and drawing a speech bubble.
He was apprehended by the police before completing the work.
Banksy's true identity has been revealed as Robin Gunningham, a 51-year-old from Bristol
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In his written confession, Banksy described the act as "a humorous adjustment" made after a night drinking at a club with friends.
He posted bail of $1,500, with felony charges reduced to a misdemeanour, ultimately paying a $310 fine and completing five days of community service.
The investigation further alleges that Mr Gunningham legally changed his name to David Jones in 2008, selecting one of Britain's most common names to remain inconspicuous on official documents.
This adopted identity reportedly enabled him to travel internationally without detection, including to Ukraine, where Banksy created murals during the conflict.
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Following the recent disclosures, Banksy's company, Pest Control, stated the artist 'has decided to say nothing'
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Researchers claim the artist entered Ukraine alongside Robert Del Naja, the Massive Attack frontman long rumoured to be Banksy, given his own graffiti background and activism.
Both men apparently departed Ukraine on the same day in October 2022.
Banksy's lawyer Mark Stephens disputed the investigation's findings, telling Reuters that his client "does not accept that many of the details contained within your enquiry are correct".
The legal representative cautioned that publishing the report could jeopardise the artist's safety, noting Banksy had been "subjected to fixated, threatening and extremist behaviour".
The artist is world-renowned for his politically pointed graffiti works
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Mr Stephens argued that working under a pseudonym "serves vital societal interests".
He said it enables creators to challenge authority "without fear of retaliation, censorship or persecution – particularly when addressing sensitive issues such as politics, religion or social justice".
The lawyer neither confirmed nor denied his client's identity.
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