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Man cleared of Shakespeare theft | Man cleared of Shakespeare theft |
(40 minutes later) | |
Raymond Scott denied theft and handling stolen goods | Raymond Scott denied theft and handling stolen goods |
Antiques dealer Raymond Scott has been cleared of stealing a rare copy of Shakespeare's First Folio. | Antiques dealer Raymond Scott has been cleared of stealing a rare copy of Shakespeare's First Folio. |
But a Newcastle Crown Court jury found the 53-year-old from County Durham guilty of handling stolen goods and removing stolen property from the UK. | But a Newcastle Crown Court jury found the 53-year-old from County Durham guilty of handling stolen goods and removing stolen property from the UK. |
Scott, of Wingate, denied stealing the 1623 work from Durham University in 1998 and handling stolen goods. | Scott, of Wingate, denied stealing the 1623 work from Durham University in 1998 and handling stolen goods. |
He was remanded in custody and warned by the judge that he faced a "substantial custodial sentence". | He was remanded in custody and warned by the judge that he faced a "substantial custodial sentence". |
The case related to one of the surviving copies of the 17th Century compendium of Shakespeare's plays, which went missing from a glass cabinet at the university. | The case related to one of the surviving copies of the 17th Century compendium of Shakespeare's plays, which went missing from a glass cabinet at the university. |
It was handed in by Scott to the world-renowned Folger Shakespeare Library in Washington DC a decade later. | It was handed in by Scott to the world-renowned Folger Shakespeare Library in Washington DC a decade later. |
The trial was told Scott kept the badly-damaged volume, estimated to be worth about £1m, at his house for a decade before taking it to the Folger library where staff called police. | The trial was told Scott kept the badly-damaged volume, estimated to be worth about £1m, at his house for a decade before taking it to the Folger library where staff called police. |
The court heard the folio had been "mutilated" since its theft | The court heard the folio had been "mutilated" since its theft |
It was alleged he hoped to sell it at auction and share the money with friends in Cuba. | It was alleged he hoped to sell it at auction and share the money with friends in Cuba. |
Scott was remanded in custody by Judge Richard Lowden, who told him: "There will, in due time, be an inevitable substantial custodial sentence." | Scott was remanded in custody by Judge Richard Lowden, who told him: "There will, in due time, be an inevitable substantial custodial sentence." |
The judge adjourned the case to a date to be fixed to allow a psychiatric report to be prepared. | The judge adjourned the case to a date to be fixed to allow a psychiatric report to be prepared. |
During the trial, the jury heard experts from the US quickly suspected the book was stolen and called in the British Embassy, Durham Police and the FBI. | During the trial, the jury heard experts from the US quickly suspected the book was stolen and called in the British Embassy, Durham Police and the FBI. |
They discovered the artefact was an incredibly rare and unique example of the folio, regarded as one of the most important works of literature ever printed. | They discovered the artefact was an incredibly rare and unique example of the folio, regarded as one of the most important works of literature ever printed. |
It had been "damaged, brutalised and mutilated" after it was stolen, in an effort, the prosecution claimed, to hide its true origins. | It had been "damaged, brutalised and mutilated" after it was stolen, in an effort, the prosecution claimed, to hide its true origins. |
Scott, of Manor Grange, Wingate, was arrested in June 2008 and claimed to have discovered the book in Cuba. | Scott, of Manor Grange, Wingate, was arrested in June 2008 and claimed to have discovered the book in Cuba. |
He declined to give any evidence in his defence during the three-week trial. | He declined to give any evidence in his defence during the three-week trial. |
Durham University said it was looking forward to the folio being returned. |