This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/england/manchester/6083672.stm
The article has changed 6 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Book thief librarian is sentenced | Book thief librarian is sentenced |
| (20 minutes later) | |
| A library assistant who stole rare books valued at £175,000 to sell on the internet has been given 250 hours' community service. | A library assistant who stole rare books valued at £175,000 to sell on the internet has been given 250 hours' community service. |
| Norman Buckley, 44, of Hulme, took more than 455 ancient books, posters and documents while working as an assistant at Manchester's Central Library. | Norman Buckley, 44, of Hulme, took more than 455 ancient books, posters and documents while working as an assistant at Manchester's Central Library. |
| The books he stole included a 16th Century Chaucer edition worth £35,000. | The books he stole included a 16th Century Chaucer edition worth £35,000. |
| At the city's Crown Court Buckley was sentenced to 15 months in prison to be suspended for two years. | At the city's Crown Court Buckley was sentenced to 15 months in prison to be suspended for two years. |
| The illegal haul also included a 1654 publication of romantic poet John Donne's Elegies valued at £1,800. | The illegal haul also included a 1654 publication of romantic poet John Donne's Elegies valued at £1,800. |
| Every time you offered a book for sale, you were breaking the trust that had been placed in you Judge Clement Goldstone | Every time you offered a book for sale, you were breaking the trust that had been placed in you Judge Clement Goldstone |
| Buckley sold 44 of the books on internet auction site eBay, but most of the books were recovered by police at his flat in Hulme. | Buckley sold 44 of the books on internet auction site eBay, but most of the books were recovered by police at his flat in Hulme. |
| He was dismissed from his job in March this year. | He was dismissed from his job in March this year. |
| Judge Clement Goldstone QC told Buckley his sentence was suspended because he had helped police find the books, which the judge described as part of the city's "literary heritage". | Judge Clement Goldstone QC told Buckley his sentence was suspended because he had helped police find the books, which the judge described as part of the city's "literary heritage". |
| "Every time you offered a book for sale, you were breaking the trust that had been placed in you," he said. | "Every time you offered a book for sale, you were breaking the trust that had been placed in you," he said. |
| "The ultimate loss to the city and its heritage may have been measured, if it can be measured at all, in the thousands of pounds rather than the tens or hundreds of thousands of pounds. | "The ultimate loss to the city and its heritage may have been measured, if it can be measured at all, in the thousands of pounds rather than the tens or hundreds of thousands of pounds. |
| "You have bought shame on yourself and your family by your behaviour." | |
| Book expert | |
| Police said the theft was brought to light by an antiquarian books expert who spotted a copy of John Donne's poetry dating back to 1654 for sale on eBay. | |
| The expert contacted Manchester Central Library after spotting its seal on photographs of the book. | |
| Library staff checked the seller's details against their employment records, and notified police. | |
| Buckley was arrested at his home on 31 March 2006 on suspicion of theft from an employer and he later admitted in court to 10 charges, with 445 taken into consideration. | |
| Ch Insp Mark Lee, of Greater Manchester Police, said the thefts amounted to a significant breach of public trust. | |
| He said the force would be working closely with the council to prevent a repeat of any such crime. |