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Investigation Reveals Banksy's True Identity as Robin Gunningham

3/17/2026

42 10 Full Breakdown

Summary

Story summary

The Reuters investigation identifies Banksy as Robin Gunningham, a 52-year-old man from Bristol.
Gunningham later legally changed his name to David Jones.
He was arrested in 2000 for vandalism, leaving a police confession listing his real name.
The investigation linked him to Ukraine murals and to a collaboration with Robert Del Naja of Massive Attack.
Banksy's lawyer criticized the publication for violating Gunningham's privacy.

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Story summary

The Reuters investigation identifies Banksy as Robin Gunningham, a 52-year-old man from Bristol.
Gunningham later legally changed his name to David Jones.
He was arrested in 2000 for vandalism, leaving a police confession listing his real name.
The investigation linked him to Ukraine murals and to a collaboration with Robert Del Naja of Massive Attack.
Banksy's lawyer criticized the publication for violating Gunningham's privacy.