Man denies theft of historic books

William Jacques, 40, is accused of stealing 13 volumes of Nouvelle Iconographies des Camellias by Ambroise Verschaffelt from the Royal Horticultural Society's London library.

Jacques, who was arrested on Christmas Day in Selby, North Yorkshire, will go on trial in the week of Tuesday, May 4 at London's Southwark Crown Court.

Yesterday, he denied stealing the books between December 10 2006 and March 15 2007. He also denied going equipped with a Senate House library card to commit theft. Jacques, of no fixed address, appeared via video link from prison.