Pub’s beloved stolen badger mascot returned, with a new scarf and an apology from the thief who took it in ‘drunken prank’

A bar apologized to the thief who made a ‘drunk joke’ and got his favorite badger mascot with a new scarf.

Known as ‘Mr Badger and Mrs Badger’, they were gifted to The Oddfellows Arms in Wimborne, Dorset, by a customer in 1991.

The couple have become local celebrities in the area, sitting by the window of the 18th-century pub for the past 35 years.

But in a dramatic drunken robbery on March 27, a female customer was caught on CCTV kidnapping Mr Badger from the bar after he had been drinking with friends.

The woman hid it under her scarf as she ran away from booze before running off to Wetherspoons for a celebratory drink with the mascot on her lap.

As Miss Badger stares out the pub window longing for her partner’s return, the Oddfellows launch a desperate appeal for information on the culprit.

But on Friday morning the unnamed badger smuggler called landlord Callum Brooks to apologize and arranged to bring back the missing mascot.

The woman shyly said that she tried to return the money on Saturday morning, the day after she received it, but the bar was closed.

The Oddfellows Arms in Winborne, Dorset, launched an appeal after the unnamed woman ran off with its mascot Mr Badger (She is pictured with the furry toy)

The woman then forgot about it, and when the campaign went viral and attracted national media attention, she was embarrassed and didn’t know what to do.

Mr Badger finally returned with a new scarf on Good Friday and the woman donated £100 to a badger charity.

The mascot now returned to the bar window with Ms. Badger, and Mr. Brooks said he would not tighten security, just trust people to do the right thing.

Mr Brooks, 41, said: ‘When we first posted on March 28 we thought someone had probably had a headache, woke up and realized they had picked up something with a lot of history.

‘We thought they would do the right thing and reciprocate, we could shake hands, say there was no room for resentment and move on.

‘We waited three days to post the images of the woman on social media and it captured everyone’s imagination.

‘I think it’s because the British don’t like injustice and the idea of ​​someone being given the right to take something that’s been there for over 30 years.’

Mr Brooks acknowledged that anyone ‘can relate to the drunkenness mistake’ and added that ‘you just have to own it and be honest about it’.

He continued: ‘It has a beautiful ending; had a week’s holiday, was taken care of and came back with a new scarf.

‘It added to the lovely atmosphere in the bar, it really brought everyone together.’

Despite the theft, Mr Brooks said the woman was always welcome at Oddies.

Pub owner Callum Brooks with Mrs Badger and a donated baby badger. On Friday morning he received a call from the Badger smuggler confessing that his beloved soft toy had been stolen.

The bar offered a ‘reward’ to anyone who provided information about the whereabouts of the badger on social media.

On a more serious note, he called on other bars to ‘be a little braver and stand up for themselves’.

He said: It’s not right for people to just take things. However, it is okay to make mistakes if you own them and are responsible. From my perspective he is good as gold and has learned from his mistake.

‘He’s back at the window, we’re not going to chain them up or anything, what does that say about the society we live in if we do that? I believe there is responsibility for actions.

‘We’ve never had an incident like this before, but I prefer to trust people and trust them to do the right thing.’

Locals gathered around the pub and one pub brought a baby badger toy to keep Mrs Badger company, and another, The Wimborne Pig, lent the Oddfellows a stuffed badger doppelgänger.

Trivia prizes were also on offer, including a £50 bar tab and a £50 Amazon voucher.

And Mr. and Mrs. Badger can now take center stage at a street party on April 11.