The librarian who stole more than 500 rare, old books worth over $300,000 then tried to sell them on eBay was hauled in front of a judge to face his fate.
Norman Buckley, 44, began his thefts after breaking up with his long-term girlfriend. He made more than £11,000 from sales of books on eBay but hardly spent any of the money, claiming the sales gave him a buzz.
Among books he stole was a 16th century Geoffrey Chaucer, worth £35,000, and a volume of political works by Coleridge, Shelley and Keats. He also took broadsides - newssheets detailing the history of Manchester - including one that contained an account of food riots in 1757.
An antiquarian books expert in Somerset became intrigued when he saw a copy of John Donne's Elegies, from 1654, for sale on eBay. He saw the Manchester Libraries seal on it, then contacted the library. Staff subsequently contacted police.
Buckley, who worked part-time in the local studies and archive team, was arrested at his home in Hulme, Manchester, in March, on suspicion of theft, and dismissed from his job. When police raided his flat they found 400 books.
Buckley pleaded guilty in August to 10 specimen thefts and asked for 445 offences to be taken into consideration. At Manchester crown court yesterday, he was ordered to perform 250 hours' community service. Judge Clement Goldstone said his 15-month jail term was suspended for two years because he had helped police to find the books.
Denise Fitzpatrick, for Buckley, said he had become depressed after his girlfriend left him: "Norman Buckley's motivation for taking these books was not financial. It was an emotional release."
Most of the books have been recovered. It's perfectly reasonable that Buckley blamed his actions on his ex-girlfriend. Because clearly the entire incident was her fault.
