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Man 'mutilated' stolen Bard folio | Man 'mutilated' stolen Bard folio |
(about 1 hour 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. | |
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 | 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 first folio was stolen in 1998 | |
"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. | 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. | 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 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." | "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. | 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. | 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. | 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. |