10 years ago, Stephen White gained backstage access at a Johnny Marr and The Healers show in London. Upon entering the area, he promptly walked off with Marr’s cherry red 1964 Gibson SG, which was valued at $46,000, and then hung it on his living room wall. It took a decade, but, after taking it to a guitar shop in England (he had accidentally stepped on it…), police were tipped off and White was finally arrested (via Sky News).

At his hearing last week, White apologized, saying, “I’m disgusted with the whole thing… There’s a victim here. I can’t reconcile myself with the behavior of that night.” He went on to blame a mixture of antidepressants and alcohol for his actions, but was still sentenced to 200 hours community service, which, incredibly enough, is less than what Lil Wayne got (but that’s a different story). As for Mr. Marr, who is currently on tour with The Cribs, he is said to be “ecstatic” about the news.

And here ends the story of Johnny Marr and his stolen guitar.

Image via London Evening Standard…