Betrayed : Controversial critic Brian Sewell revealed once-trusted friends have stolen his paintings . He has built an impressive art collection over a decades-long career as Britain ’ s most-feared critic . But now Brian Sewell has revealed that some of the works he has accumulated have gone missing – stolen by once-trusted friends . ‘ It is surprising how unpleasant people can be , ’ he tells Event magazine today . ‘ How untrustworthy friends can become . ‘ How somebody you think you can absolutely depend on will do something so mean that it astonishes you. ’ None of Mr Sewell ’ s light-fingered visitors are likely to face justice since he has decided to not report the matter to police . The critic , who is suffering from cancer , refuses to identify those he holds responsible for betraying him but makes it abundantly clear that he knows who they are . The thefts have occurred over the past ten years and came to light recently when he started sorting through his belongings , bagging up old clothes for charity and consigning other unwanted items to the bonfire . Friends and acquaintances visiting his home in Wimbledon , South London , have made off with paintings and drawings , he says , and , when challenged , have denied all knowledge . However , Sewell has confessed that he occasionally indulged in similar behaviour himself when visiting friends ’ homes – though on a much smaller scale . He said : ‘ I have stolen the odd book myself . I have a theory that only men steal books , although when I proposed that to a woman a month or two ago she was absolutely outraged . ‘ It ’ s not really books I ’ m worrying about – it ’ s small paintings and drawings which quietly disappear . You don ’ t know when they disappear but , when you think about it , it ’ s only ... when people have been to the house . ‘ This is betrayal . It makes me so angry and helpless because you can ’ t do anything about it. ’ Sewell , whose trenchant views once led to leading figures in the art world demanding his dismissal as the Evening Standard ’ s art critic , also speaks –with some reluctance – about his illness . ' I have stolen the odd book myself , ' the critic said . 'It ’ s not really books I ’ m worrying about – it ’ s small paintings and drawings which quietly disappear . It ’ s only ... when people have been to the house ' ‘ I think a serene death with my dogs on the bed would be wonderful , ’ he said . ‘ It may still happen . I really don ’ t know. ’ The 84-year-old has admitted to disliking children but loving animals – ironically as his latest book is aimed at youngsters . The White Umbrella , which has just been published , is about a wounded donkey found by a TV crew visiting Pakistan – and he says he wrote it as a ‘ distraction ’ from his radiotherapy . Last night he said he had confronted the ‘ friends ’ he suspected of robbing him but had failed to get any of the missing artworks back . ‘ I have always done it face-to-face and I now know it isn ’ t worth doing because it simply gets worse – the lies don ’ t help . ’
Thefts took place over the past ten years but only came to light recently . Feared critic noticed gaps in collection at home in London , Wimbledon . He has not reported the matter to police - but slammed friends ' 'betrayal ' The 84-year-old does , however , confess to stealing books in return .