Antiques dealer jailed over stolen Shakespeare book

Raymond Scott, 53, who drove a yellow Ferrari and posed as an

international playboy despite having huge debts, walked into one of the world's leading Shakespeare research centres with the 17th century book.

Staff at the renowned Folger Shakespeare Library in Washington D.C. recognised the valuable book and called the police, the British Embassy and the FBI.

Regarded as one of the most important printed works in the English language, less than 250 copies of the collection survive.

They were first printed in 1623, seven years after Shakespeare's death.

Last month a jury at Newcastle Crown Court found Scott guilty of handling stolen goods and removing stolen property from Britain.

However, he was cleared of stealing the book from Durham University in 1988.

Passing sentence, Judge Richard Lowden said: "You are to some extent a fantasist and have to some degree a personality disorder and you have been an alcoholic.

"It is clear that from the (psychiatric) report you are not suffering from any mental disorder."

Passing sentence, the judge branded the damage to the First Folio as "cultural vandalisation". He said the book had been kept out of the public eye for many years and had been "defaced to hide its true identity".

The judge gave Scott a six-year prison term for handling stolen goods and two years' imprisonment – to run consecutively – for removing stolen property from Britain.

Scott also admitted theft of two paintings – worth about 1,000 – from Fenwicks department store in Newcastle in October 2008.

He received two six-month prison sentences to run concurrent to the eight years.

Scott, who was wearing his trademark glasses and a linen suit, kept his head bowed throughout the hearing at Newcastle Crown Court.

Flanked by two dock officers, Scott occasionally shook his head if something was said that he disagreed with.

The court heard that he had 25 previous convictions dating back to 1977, mainly for dishonesty. He was unemployed, living off benefits, and until recently had been living with his elderly mother.

Toby Hedworth QC, defending, said Scott had been suffering from a long-standing alcohol addiction and since his remand in custody had not been drinking.

Scott, of Manor Grange, Wingate, County Durham, claimed to have discovered the book in Cuba. He denied all the charges.