Jail for book-plunder role

Another person involved in a rare-book theft ring has found himself behind bars, despite pleas of ill-health.

Lionel Barry Quill, 64, was jailed yesterday for 20 months.

Christchurch District Court Judge David Saunders said he would grant leave to apply for home detention, but said not enough grounds existed to defer the start of the sentence.

Quill admitted using false names in sales transactions, conspiring to receive stolen books and receiving.

The judge said Quill was mixed up in a group which plundered rare books from libraries throughout New Zealand, selling them locally and abroad.

The main offender, Lee Simpson, had already been dealt with by a three-year sentence, but evidence showed Quill was clearly involved.

He had taken part in the "washing" of books of identification marks, and took stolen books in for sale, being paid on completion of the transactions.

Lawyer Stephen Hembrow said Quill was seriously ill and had the care of his wife, who also suffered ill-health.

Judge Saunders said many of the books were irreplaceable, and libraries had been forced to increase security.

- NZPA