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Man 'mutilated' stolen Bard folio | |
(about 2 hours later) | |
Mr Scott denies theft, handling stolen goods and removing criminal property | Mr Scott denies theft, handling stolen goods and removing criminal property |
A jobless book dealer who posed as an international playboy "mutilated" a stolen £3m first edition of Shakespeare's works, a court has heard. | A jobless book dealer who posed as an international playboy "mutilated" a stolen £3m first edition of Shakespeare's works, a court has heard. |
Raymond Scott, 53, of Wingate, County Durham, is accused of taking the folio from Durham University in 1998. | Raymond Scott, 53, of Wingate, County Durham, is accused of taking the folio from Durham University in 1998. |
The prosecution at Newcastle Crown Court said he damaged it to hide the fact that it was stolen. | The prosecution at Newcastle Crown Court said he damaged it to hide the fact that it was stolen. |
He denies three charges of theft, handling stolen goods and removing criminal property. | He denies three charges of theft, handling stolen goods and removing criminal property. |
The investigation began in the United States after Mr Scott, walked into the Folger Shakespeare Library in Washington DC with the 400-year-old book. | The investigation began in the United States after Mr Scott, walked into the Folger Shakespeare Library in Washington DC with the 400-year-old book. |
He claimed to have discovered it at a friend's house in Cuba and asked for it to be verified as genuine. | He claimed to have discovered it at a friend's house in Cuba and asked for it to be verified as genuine. |
Experts suspected the book was stolen and called in the British Embassy, Durham Police and the FBI. | Experts suspected the book was stolen and called in the British Embassy, Durham Police and the FBI. |
Mr Scott, who lived with his then 80-year-old mother in Washington, Tyne and Wear, was arrested. | Mr Scott, who lived with his then 80-year-old mother in Washington, Tyne and Wear, was arrested. |
It is alleged he stole the folio from a secured glass cabinet in an exhibition of ancient English literature at the university's Palace Green Library. | It is alleged he stole the folio from a secured glass cabinet in an exhibition of ancient English literature at the university's Palace Green Library. |
He then kept the work, described as part of England's "cultural legacy" to the world, at the former council home he shared with his elderly mother. | He then kept the work, described as part of England's "cultural legacy" to the world, at the former council home he shared with his elderly mother. |
In 2008 he took it to be authenticated, claiming he was the multi-millionaire son of a building contractor, the court was told. | In 2008 he took it to be authenticated, claiming he was the multi-millionaire son of a building contractor, the court was told. |
Robert Smith QC, prosecuting, said: "He presented himself as someone doing a service to the cultural community by bringing the book in to have it identified, but he did not make it clear what he intended to do with the book. | Robert Smith QC, prosecuting, said: "He presented himself as someone doing a service to the cultural community by bringing the book in to have it identified, but he did not make it clear what he intended to do with the book. |
Cuban waitress | |
"He told staff at the Folger Library he was staying at the Mayflower hotel in Washington DC, where he had a suite. | "He told staff at the Folger Library he was staying at the Mayflower hotel in Washington DC, where he had a suite. |
"The truth was he lived at a house on Wigeon Close, Washington, not DC but Tyne and Wear, with his mother." | "The truth was he lived at a house on Wigeon Close, Washington, not DC but Tyne and Wear, with his mother." |
The prosecution said that Mr Scott had become infatuated with a young Cuban waitress and was sending her money. | |
Mr Smith said: "He had been transferring to her substantial amounts of money which he could ill afford and which he had borrowed for that purpose. | |
"He is not a wealthy man by any means. On the contrary he was living on state benefits. | |
"He had credit card debts and bank liabilities of more than £90,000." | |
Mr Smith told the court that the Shakespeare folio had both the covers, the frontispiece, final page and binding removed in an attempt to disguise its provenance. | |
Experts described it as "damaged, brutalised and mutilated", but were able to tell that it was the Durham folio by its dimensions and by a handwritten note, referring to the play Troilus And Cressida. | |
When it was verified as genuine Mr Scott said he intended to sell it on the open market, the court heard. | |
The folio is regarded as one of the most important printed works in English and is valued at between £3m and £15m. | The folio is regarded as one of the most important printed works in English and is valued at between £3m and £15m. |
The trial continues. | The trial continues. |