[MSN] Hoarder admits to Darwin book theft. AN AMATEUR collector has pleaded guilty to the theft of a 147-year-old book worth £100,000.

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Hoarder admits to Darwin book theft
AN AMATEUR collector has pleaded guilty to the theft of a 147-year-old book
worth £100,000.

The inscribed first edition of Victorian botanist Charles Darwin's Origin of
the Species was taken from Down House, Luxted Road, Downe, in February 2004.

Amir Ladak, of Meadvale Road, Ealing, admitted stealing the book from the
Victorian botanist's former home and was fined £3,000 at Croydon Crown Court
on September 11.

Ladak, aged 51, was also ordered to carry out 100 hours of unpaid community
work and pay £115 costs.

Prosecuting, Hamish Reid said Ladak was caught after he committed a similar
offence on July 10 last year.

Ladak removed a dust cover worth £5,000 from a Graham Greene book at
Sothebys in New Bond Street.

He left fingerprints which turned out to match those taken at the Darwin
Museum and he was arrested.

Mr Reid said: "He told officers, This has happened before'.

"A search was made but the book could not be found. There were books piled
up in all the rooms.

"When he was charged at Bromley police station on July 25 with theft, he
made no reply.

"He was bailed and, as he was being escorted out, he said, I can't live with
this any more. I'll give the book back. I have still got it.' "Police again
went to his home and he led them to the loft. He went to the far corner and
pulled out a bin liner with the book inside. It was in good order."

Mitigating, Anne-Marie Critchley said: "It all came about through his love
for books. On neither occasion did he seek to sell them, if he had, he would
have made a substantial profit.

"He simply enjoyed possession of the book. He had started to contemplate how
to give it back when he was caught."

Judge Nicholas Ainley told Ladak: "This was motivated by your covetous
desire to possess priceless artefacts."

English Heritage, which received the book from Bromley police last month, is
considering whether to display it again.

7:37am Thursday 14th September 2006



By Court Reporter
http://www.newsshopper.co.uk/