Diary: Don Buonaguidi punishes disrespectful hoodlums

Campaign 18-Jul-08

Diary would like to send out a public-service announcement to any would-be burglars who want to try to break into the Karmarama offices, or Dave Buonaguidi's house.

Please, we implore you, read this story, and get a good look at this
man, before making any rash decisions because it definitely hasn't
worked out well for others who have tried the same trick.

In the past week alone, two lots of ne'er-do-wells have been on the

receiving end of adland's vigilante hero. First, the industry's answer
to Batman saw some hoodies trying to steal bikes near where he plays
football so he locked them in a pitch with 15-foot high perimeter
walls.

Then, just two days later Buonaguidi came across a miscreant trying to
steal the agency's Mini from the Karmarama garage. Once the tea-leaf had
tried to fob Buonaguidi off with a line about trying to find his dog,
which didn't wash at all, the Italian Stallion gave him a good
slapping.

But, these aren't isolated incidents of vigilantism. Last year, Diary
reported a couple of attempted break-ins at the big man's Elephant &
Castle residence.

To give you a flavour of the tale, here are a few choice quotes.

"I went out looking for the bastard in my car ... driving round for
hours with a hammer on my lap", "I hit him very hard on the head with a
shovel" and "I kicked him hard in the nuts".

Rumours of a movie loosely based on the life of the Hammersmith hard man
(with the main character being played by Sylvester Stallone and Adam
Woodyatt pencilled in to play the planning partner Sid McGrath) are,
alas, being scotched by the agency.