A shocking crime has been uncovered involving a brazen book thief named John Nicolaides who has been stealing hundreds of non-fiction titles from libraries across the UK and selling them online. His unusual crime spree landed him in hot water when he targeted libraries in Warwickshire.
Mr. Nicolaides shamelessly used fake names to check out expensive books from various libraries, ultimately amassing a considerable collection of stolen literature. He took out 49 books from libraries in Nuneaton, Kenilworth, Stratford, and Rugby, estimated to be worth around £1,500, without ever returning them.
His nefarious activities were finally brought to light thanks to an eagle-eyed area manager of Warwickshire Libraries who reported his suspicious behavior to the local authorities. By the time the police got involved, it was discovered that Mr. Nicolaides had managed to loan a staggering 900 books valued between £25,000 and £30,000 from libraries all over the country.
During the court proceedings, it was revealed that Mr. Nicolaides had managed to sell the stolen books online, raking in a total of £80,000 through PayPal and Amazon. Despite claiming that he hadn’t done it for the money, he admitted to police that he was driven by the thrill of stealing from libraries, which ultimately led him down a destructive path.
The prosecutor, Howard Searle, detailed the extent of Mr. Nicolaides’ criminal activities, emphasizing how he gave false details when borrowing the books but used his real name when selling them online. He also underscored that the stolen books deprived other readers of access, making it far from a victimless crime.
During the court proceedings, Mr. Nicolaides pleaded guilty to 12 offences of theft and was handed a 12-month suspended prison sentence, with a requirement to undergo mental health treatment and complete 120 hours of unpaid work. Despite providing false details during the application process, Mr. Nicolaides’ defence acknowledged his shame and emphasized that he was of previous good character while revealing that he had been sober for the past 12 months.
In delivering the sentence, Judge Graeme Smith highlighted the severity of the crime, pointing out that the stolen books amounted to public money and that the public authority finances were already under considerable strain. He also confirmed that a proceeds of crime hearing would be held in the coming year to address the money earned from the illicit book sales.
This unsettling case sheds light on the consequences of engaging in criminal activities that impact not only individual victims but also the broader public. Let us hope that Mr. Nicolaides and others facing similar challenges find the support they need to redirect their lives onto a more positive path.