William Jacques
Encyclopedia
William Simon Jacques nicknamed the "Tome Raider" by the media, is a serial book thief who has been twice convicted after stealing hundreds of rare books worth over £1 million from libraries in the UK. He was jailed in May 2002 for four years, and again in July 2010 for three and a half years.
, North Yorkshire. He studied at the University of Cambridge
from October 1987 to 1990, gaining a 2:1 degree in economics from Jesus College
, and he is a former chartered accountant
who worked with Shell UK. He lived alone in a bed sit in Maida Vale
. At his second trial, his lawyer said he was by then an odd-job man who relied on the charity of friends.
realised that its two copies of Newton's Principia Mathematica
, from the collection of the Bishop of Ely, were missing. The library now says that books began to go missing in the early 1990s. The police interviewed library staff but made no arrests.
In February 1999, a student at LSE
bid £120 for a copy of The Pure Logic of Quality by William Jevons in auction at Bloomsbury Book Auctions in London, and took it to Pickering & Chatto, a book dealers. The book dealer, Jolyon Hudson, realised that the book was damaged and appeared to be an ex-library book due to evidence of removed labels. He suspected it was from the London Library
, and chief librarian Alan Bell quickly confirmed this. Hudson asked auctioneer Rupert Powell who supplied the book, and he named Jacques, who had been doing business with him since 1992 or 1993. The London Library matched all Jacques' books from that sale as coming from them. Jacques claimed that he bought the books from a middle-aged man at Portobello Market, paying in cash. Jacques then faxed the auction house with terms for his co-operation, including maintaining anonymity.
Cambridgeshire Police opened a case, run by Detective Constable Paul Howitt, and interviewed Jacques in April 1999. Jacques then transferred £360,000 from his London bank, first to Gibraltar and then to Cuba. He resigned from Shell and flew to Cuba, and then sent a letter to the police via his solicitor, listing safety deposit boxes in London, York and Cambridge that contained 64 books. A locker at his work contained more books. Some books were wrapped in newspaper from 1993 and a forgery kit of antique paper, bindings and book covers was found. Jacques flew back to the UK after spending only seven weeks in Cuba and he was arrested, still denying that he had stolen the books.
Books that Jacques stole include an original of Malthus' essay on population, taken from Cambridge University Library and valued at £40,000, and works by Thomas Paine, Galileo and Robert Boyle. The value of the around 412 books that he stole prior to 2002 from Cambridge University Library, London Library and the British Library
is estimated at £1.1 million.
He sold the books through European auction houses, and many were not recovered. Gallerie Gerda Bassenge, Zisska and Kistner in Munich, and Christie's
in London all auctioned books from him.
He began stealing books from the Lindley Library
of the Royal Horticultural Society
in Pimlico under the name Victor Santoro some time after June 2004, when an inventory was last taken. He moved books around to hide the gaps he left when removing books, which he concealed under his tweed jacket. Staff later realised that he signed in when he had both arms free, but never signed out.
In March 2007 he was seen placing a book under his jacket, and when he next visited the library they called the police and he was arrested. On being searched a list of 70 titles that he had stolen or intended to steal was discovered, which included works by Charles Darwin and Edward Lear. He denied stealing books, saying "I don't know nothing about this. Do you have any evidence for this?". He refused to answer questions or give his name.
He was released on bail in April 2007, and went on the run. He was arrested by North Yorkshire Police on 25 December 2009 at his mother's house in Selby after a tip-off.
. He was given legal aid
. Jacques claimed that he was using the books for research purposes and was using a false name due to his prior conviction. After five hours and 40 minutes, the jury convicted Jacques 11-1 on 22 June 2010 of theft of the books and going equipped to commit theft with a Senate House library card. His lawyer acknowledged that he showed no remorse, but argued in mitigation that his reputation had been destroyed by his first conviction. He was jailed by Michael Holland QC on 20 July for three-and-a-half years.
, worth £40,000. The books have not been recovered, although they were insured. Jacques did not reveal his latest address and may have kept books at an unknown location. Confiscation proceedings to recover the books are due in January 2011.
Personal life
Jacques is the son of a farmer from Cliffe, SelbyCliffe, Selby
Cliffe is a small village and civil parish in the Selby district of North Yorkshire, England. It lies on the A63 trunk road from Selby to Hull and the railway line which also goes to and from those destinations. The railway was opened in 1863 and there was a station at Cliffe although it was named...
, North Yorkshire. He studied at the University of Cambridge
University of Cambridge
The University of Cambridge is a public research university located in Cambridge, United Kingdom. It is the second-oldest university in both the United Kingdom and the English-speaking world , and the seventh-oldest globally...
from October 1987 to 1990, gaining a 2:1 degree in economics from Jesus College
Jesus College, Cambridge
Jesus College is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge, England.The College was founded in 1496 on the site of a Benedictine nunnery by John Alcock, then Bishop of Ely...
, and he is a former chartered accountant
Chartered Accountant
Chartered Accountants were the first accountants to form a professional body, initially established in Britain in 1854. The Edinburgh Society of Accountants , the Glasgow Institute of Accountants and Actuaries and the Aberdeen Society of Accountants were each granted a royal charter almost from...
who worked with Shell UK. He lived alone in a bed sit in Maida Vale
Maida Vale
Maida Vale is a residential district in West London between St John's Wood and Kilburn. It is part of the City of Westminster. The area is mostly residential, and mainly affluent, consisting of many large late Victorian and Edwardian blocks of mansion flats...
. At his second trial, his lawyer said he was by then an odd-job man who relied on the charity of friends.
First investigation
In 1996, Cambridge University LibraryCambridge University Library
The Cambridge University Library is the centrally-administered library of Cambridge University in England. It comprises five separate libraries:* the University Library main building * the Medical Library...
realised that its two copies of Newton's Principia Mathematica
Principia Mathematica
The Principia Mathematica is a three-volume work on the foundations of mathematics, written by Alfred North Whitehead and Bertrand Russell and published in 1910, 1912, and 1913...
, from the collection of the Bishop of Ely, were missing. The library now says that books began to go missing in the early 1990s. The police interviewed library staff but made no arrests.
London School of Economics
The London School of Economics and Political Science is a public research university specialised in the social sciences located in London, United Kingdom, and a constituent college of the federal University of London...
bid £120 for a copy of The Pure Logic of Quality by William Jevons in auction at Bloomsbury Book Auctions in London, and took it to Pickering & Chatto, a book dealers. The book dealer, Jolyon Hudson, realised that the book was damaged and appeared to be an ex-library book due to evidence of removed labels. He suspected it was from the London Library
London Library
The London Library is the world's largest independent lending library, and the UK's leading literary institution. It is located in the City of Westminster, London, England, United Kingdom....
, and chief librarian Alan Bell quickly confirmed this. Hudson asked auctioneer Rupert Powell who supplied the book, and he named Jacques, who had been doing business with him since 1992 or 1993. The London Library matched all Jacques' books from that sale as coming from them. Jacques claimed that he bought the books from a middle-aged man at Portobello Market, paying in cash. Jacques then faxed the auction house with terms for his co-operation, including maintaining anonymity.
Cambridgeshire Police opened a case, run by Detective Constable Paul Howitt, and interviewed Jacques in April 1999. Jacques then transferred £360,000 from his London bank, first to Gibraltar and then to Cuba. He resigned from Shell and flew to Cuba, and then sent a letter to the police via his solicitor, listing safety deposit boxes in London, York and Cambridge that contained 64 books. A locker at his work contained more books. Some books were wrapped in newspaper from 1993 and a forgery kit of antique paper, bindings and book covers was found. Jacques flew back to the UK after spending only seven weeks in Cuba and he was arrested, still denying that he had stolen the books.
First trial
In February 2001 he was charged with 19 counts of theft. After five weeks he was found guilty and jailed. He twice appealed without success. A second trial on two further counts would have taken place in April 2002, but he pled guilty. Twelve more charges were left on file. He was jailed at Middlesex Guildhall Crown Court by Judge Derek Inman on 23 May 2002, and ordered to pay £310,000 in compensation.Books taken
British Library
The British Library is the national library of the United Kingdom, and is the world's largest library in terms of total number of items. The library is a major research library, holding over 150 million items from every country in the world, in virtually all known languages and in many formats,...
is estimated at £1.1 million.
He sold the books through European auction houses, and many were not recovered. Gallerie Gerda Bassenge, Zisska and Kistner in Munich, and Christie's
Christie's
Christie's is an art business and a fine arts auction house.- History :The official company literature states that founder James Christie conducted the first sale in London, England, on 5 December 1766, and the earliest auction catalogue the company retains is from December 1766...
in London all auctioned books from him.
Second investigation
After Jacques was released he visited the British Library in April 2004 wearing a beard, long hair and glasses, but he was recognised and removed.He began stealing books from the Lindley Library
Lindley Library
The Lindley Library is the largest horticultural library in the world.The main part of the library is based at 80 Vincent Square, London, within the headquarters of its custodian, the Royal Horticultural Society ; the site also includes Lindley Hall, one of the Royal Horticultural Halls...
of the Royal Horticultural Society
Royal Horticultural Society
The Royal Horticultural Society was founded in 1804 in London, England as the Horticultural Society of London, and gained its present name in a Royal Charter granted in 1861 by Prince Albert...
in Pimlico under the name Victor Santoro some time after June 2004, when an inventory was last taken. He moved books around to hide the gaps he left when removing books, which he concealed under his tweed jacket. Staff later realised that he signed in when he had both arms free, but never signed out.
In March 2007 he was seen placing a book under his jacket, and when he next visited the library they called the police and he was arrested. On being searched a list of 70 titles that he had stolen or intended to steal was discovered, which included works by Charles Darwin and Edward Lear. He denied stealing books, saying "I don't know nothing about this. Do you have any evidence for this?". He refused to answer questions or give his name.
He was released on bail in April 2007, and went on the run. He was arrested by North Yorkshire Police on 25 December 2009 at his mother's house in Selby after a tip-off.
Second trial
Jacques appeared at the City of Westminster Magistrates’ Court on 31 December 2009, and the trial took place at Southwark Crown CourtSouthwark Crown Court
Southwark Crown Court is one of three Crown Court buildings in London SE1, along with Inner London Crown Court and Blackfriars Crown Court.Opened in 1983, the brick building is located close to the River Thames at the south of London Bridge, next to Hay's Galleria...
. He was given legal aid
Legal aid
Legal aid is the provision of assistance to people otherwise unable to afford legal representation and access to the court system. Legal aid is regarded as central in providing access to justice by ensuring equality before the law, the right to counsel and the right to a fair trial.A number of...
. Jacques claimed that he was using the books for research purposes and was using a false name due to his prior conviction. After five hours and 40 minutes, the jury convicted Jacques 11-1 on 22 June 2010 of theft of the books and going equipped to commit theft with a Senate House library card. His lawyer acknowledged that he showed no remorse, but argued in mitigation that his reputation had been destroyed by his first conviction. He was jailed by Michael Holland QC on 20 July for three-and-a-half years.
Books taken in second case
Between June 2004 and March 2007 Jacques took 13 volumes of Nouvelle Iconographie des Camellias by 19th century Belgian author Ambroise VerschaffeltAmbroise Verschaffelt
Ambroise Verschaffelt was a distinguished Belgian horticulturist and author. He founded the L'Illustration Horticole at Ghent in 1854 and introduced many new camellia species. The Verschaffelts were a family of Belgian nurserymen specializing in camellias. They published the Nouvelle Iconographie...
, worth £40,000. The books have not been recovered, although they were insured. Jacques did not reveal his latest address and may have kept books at an unknown location. Confiscation proceedings to recover the books are due in January 2011.
Impact
Cambridge University Library doubted that Jacques had taken the items himself and suspected a member of staff did. At both Cambridge and London Library, CCTV was introduced and security passes now must be shown. After his 2002 conviction, Jacques was banned from all UK libraries. The Lindley Library says it has improved security and now requires proof of identity. The judge sentencing Jacques in 2010 said that"The effect of your criminality was to undermine and destroy parts of the cultural heritage that's contained within these libraries and make it more difficult for those who have a legitimate interest in these books to gain access to them because libraries have to take inconvenient and expensive steps to stop thefts of this kind."