Banksy has made a rare intervention into public life to ensure that one of his artworks – probably worth millions of pounds — goes to a boys’ club in Bristol.

In doing so, however, the mysterious graffiti artist may have revealed a new detail about his past.

When his piece ‘Mobile Lovers’ - an image of two lovers kissing while using smartphones - appeared in a doorway in Clement Street in the city, it was taken away by the leader of nearby Broad Plain Boys' Club to help its fundraising effort.

Download the new Independent Premium app Sharing the full story, not just the headlines

Bristol City Council then appeared to claim ownership, saying the work was on its property, and took it to a museum.

However, Banksy then wrote to the club to say: “As far as I'm concerned, you can have it.”

Shape Created with Sketch. Banksy's New York residency Show all 14 left Created with Sketch. right Created with Sketch. Shape Created with Sketch. Banksy's New York residency 1/14 Banksy's New York residency Banksy paints a leopard onto the Yakee stadium in New York banksyny.com 2/14 Banksy's New York residency A dancer poses next to a Banksy stencil of a man holding flowers Reuters 3/14 Banksy's New York residency A Banksy robot appears on Coney Island, New York banksyny.com 4/14 Banksy's New York residency Banksy's 'Ghetto 4 Life' seen here sprayed on a Bronx street. The graffiti caused upset in the neighbourhood, which the Mayor said had been trying to rid itself of its 'ghetto' status Banksy 5/14 Banksy's New York residency Banksy's 'The street is in play' appears in New York City. The piece was also defaced shortly afterwards banksyny 6/14 Banksy's New York residency A dog sits next to a Banksy of a boy about to hammer open a water pipe Reuters 7/14 Banksy's New York residency Banksy appropriates a quote from the film Gladiator in one of his New York pieces Banksy 8/14 Banksy's New York residency Banksy's alternative bumper sticker gives New Yorkers a mantra to live by Banksy 9/14 Banksy's New York residency A work by Banksyseen through a chain link fence in the Lower East Side neighborhood of New York City Getty Images 10/14 Banksy's New York residency A piece of street art depicting a heart-shaped balloon covered in bandages, allegedly done by the street artist Banksy, is seen on in the Red Hook neighborhood of the Brooklyn borough of New York City. The piece was defaced with red spray paint shortly after being completed Getty Images 11/14 Banksy's New York residency A charming Banksy piece in the Bed-Stuy neighbourhood of New York Banksy 12/14 Banksy's New York residency Banksy's beaver, which marks the tenth day of the artist's New York residency, gnaws on a felled 'No Parking' sign Banksy 13/14 Banksy's New York residency A pug urinates on Banksy's tribute to 9/11 in New York Chris Streger 14/14 Banksy's New York residency Banksy's final piece of graffiti as part of his month-long project in New York banksyny.com 1/14 Banksy's New York residency Banksy paints a leopard onto the Yakee stadium in New York banksyny.com 2/14 Banksy's New York residency A dancer poses next to a Banksy stencil of a man holding flowers Reuters 3/14 Banksy's New York residency A Banksy robot appears on Coney Island, New York banksyny.com 4/14 Banksy's New York residency Banksy's 'Ghetto 4 Life' seen here sprayed on a Bronx street. The graffiti caused upset in the neighbourhood, which the Mayor said had been trying to rid itself of its 'ghetto' status Banksy 5/14 Banksy's New York residency Banksy's 'The street is in play' appears in New York City. The piece was also defaced shortly afterwards banksyny 6/14 Banksy's New York residency A dog sits next to a Banksy of a boy about to hammer open a water pipe Reuters 7/14 Banksy's New York residency Banksy appropriates a quote from the film Gladiator in one of his New York pieces Banksy 8/14 Banksy's New York residency Banksy's alternative bumper sticker gives New Yorkers a mantra to live by Banksy 9/14 Banksy's New York residency A work by Banksyseen through a chain link fence in the Lower East Side neighborhood of New York City Getty Images 10/14 Banksy's New York residency A piece of street art depicting a heart-shaped balloon covered in bandages, allegedly done by the street artist Banksy, is seen on in the Red Hook neighborhood of the Brooklyn borough of New York City. The piece was defaced with red spray paint shortly after being completed Getty Images 11/14 Banksy's New York residency A charming Banksy piece in the Bed-Stuy neighbourhood of New York Banksy 12/14 Banksy's New York residency Banksy's beaver, which marks the tenth day of the artist's New York residency, gnaws on a felled 'No Parking' sign Banksy 13/14 Banksy's New York residency A pug urinates on Banksy's tribute to 9/11 in New York Chris Streger 14/14 Banksy's New York residency Banksy's final piece of graffiti as part of his month-long project in New York banksyny.com

The letter is signed in graffiti style and has since been authenticated by the artist’s representative, BBC News reported.

The letter opens: “Dear Dennis, I hope this finds you well. As you know I recently painted on a doorway near the club.”

He says he does not usually admit “committing criminal damage” but added that he was “a great admirer of the work done at the club” and would be “chuffed” if his letter would help the club claim the picture.

“I assume you're familiar with the quote attributed to Abraham Lincoln – ‘Things may come to those who wait, but only the things left behind by those who hustle,’” he adds.

Dennis Stinchcombe, the club leder who found the note, said: “I'm absolutely elated. Words don't express how delighted I am. As soon as I read it and saw the signature I knew what it was.”

He said he thought the artist had visited Broad Plain during his childhood.

“I think as a young man (Banksy) went to Barton Hill youth club and probably came into my club several times,” Mr Stinchcombe said. “He's come clean to us and it's lovely.”

George Ferguson, the mayor of Bristol, said Banksy’s intervention had resulted in a “proper resolution”.

“We've done our job by looking after it and in the meantime we've collected a bit more for the boys' club, and thousands of people in Bristol and farther afield have seen it,” he told the BBC.

“This was never a case of Dennis and I not seeing eye-to-eye. Dennis has said that if it fetches as much at auction as it could do, the money will go not just to the boys’ club but also to youth projects in Bristol.”