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.
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.
The illegal haul also included a 1654 publication of romantic poet John
Donne's Elegies valued at £1,800.
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.
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.
"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."
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.
William Hale.
Rare Books Department,
Cambridge University Library,
West Road, Cambridge CB3 9DR.