Throw The Book At Him!: Tome Raider Cut Map Out Of National Maritime Museum Atlas

Staff at the National Maritime Museum were horrified to discover a thief using a Stanley knife had cut a world map out of a valuable atlas, causing £30,000 of damage. 

Melvin West, 69, had left the blade behind and was identified as the last person using the room.

West, of Old Church Road, Chingford, east London appeared at Bromley Magistrates’ Court today,
where he admitted the offences.

District Judge Lucy Corrin bailed him to appear for sentencing at Woolwich Crown Court on a date to be fixed.

“I am sending your case to Woolwich Crown Court because the sentencing powers of this court are insufficient,” she told him.

West pleaded guilty to causing criminal damage to the antique atlas, belonging to The Caird Library, National Maritime Museum, Greenwich, on February 26, last year.

He also pleaded guilty to stealing a 100 Nova Orbis antique map, worth £6,000 from The Caird Library on the same occasion and being in possession of a knife or blade, namely a yellow and black retractable Stanley knife.

Prosecutor Tharshani Siva told the court: “The defendant damaged a valuable map book by cutting the map out of the book with a Stanley knife.

“The knife was found in one of the viewing rooms at the museum and the staff had noticed the defendant had used the room last.

“Staff identified one of the books had suffered cuts and damage and one of the twelve maps in the book was missing.

“The map is worth six thousand pounds and thirty thousand pounds in damage had been caused to the atlas.”

West’s lawyer Daniel Dilein told the court: “There is just one thing Mr West wants me to say and that is he is willing to return the map, but is not able to at the moment because it is with his friend, who is out of the country.

“When he can he will convey the map to the police.”

“The return of the map will be significant when it comes to sentencing,” remarked District Judge Corrin.