[MSN] Fine for man who took priceless pen. A FORMER student who pocketed a priceless Zulu pen from Cambridge University Library more than three years ago did it out of spite.

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Fine for man who took priceless pen
A FORMER student who pocketed a priceless Zulu pen from Cambridge University
Library more than three years ago did it out of spite.

The ancient writing implement was used to sign the Zulu Treaty which marked
the end of the tribe's war with the British, made famous by the film Zulu
starring Michael Caine.

But they say the pen is mightier than the sword - and this one was used as a
weapon by a woman scorned. It was a former girlfriend with a grudge which
led to the arrest of thief William Harmer.

He stole the pen used to sign the treaty in 1879 from a locked room he had
access to at the library while working there as a book runner in 2004.

But the theft was not discovered until the disgruntled girlfriend shopped
her ex to university authorities a few weeks ago.

On Thursday, Harmer, now aged 22 and a qualified mechanical engineer,
admitted stealing the pen - a sharpened piece of wood said to be worth
between £1,000 and £10,000 but whose historical significance is priceless -
when he appeared before the city's magistrates' court.

He was not at home at College Houses, West Street, Comberton, when police
called with a search warrant following the tip off - and found the artefact
still hidden beneath a drawer in his bedroom, Paul Brown, for the
prosecution, told the court.

When arrested, Harmer - a former deputy scout leader - confessed to taking
the pen in retribution for being docked holiday pay he believed was due just
before he left the job to start college. But having pocketed it, he did not
know what to do with it and "always intended to send the pen back to the
library", but did not get round to it, the court heard.

Michael Judkins, in mitigation, also emphasised there was no question of
financial gain.

Never in trouble before or since, Harmer had been a teenager at the time who
was acting immaturely - but has now well-and-truly grown up, he added.

Currently working in the construction industry and undergoing further
training, he had long realised what he had done was "totally stupid".

After reading references from Harmer's employer, colleagues and a scout
leader, presiding magistrate Elaine Durham fined him £250 with £75 costs -
and gave him a ticking off.

"It was a shameful thing to do. I am sure you regret it hugely", she said.
"It must also be a matter of great shame that you have lost your good name."

The Ulundi Treaty was signed after British forces defeated the Zulu army and
captured their king.

Rachel Rowe, a librarian at the Royal Commonwealth Society library which is
housed in the Cambridge University Library, said: "Security is very tight
but there has to be an element of trust as regards the staff. In the seven
years I have been here nothing like this has happened.

"The pen came to Cambridge when the royal society's library moved here in
1993 after a nationwide appeal. At some point in history it was acquired by
the library. As an historical artefact it is priceless as it was used to
sign an important treaty."

Det Con Henry Wiley, of Cambridgeshire Police, said: "The pen is extremely
important to the university and we are very pleased to be able to reunite it
with its rightful owner."

http://www.cambridge-news.co.uk/