William Simon Jacques jailed for antique book theft in London, England

A man was jailed today having been convicted of stealing antique books from the Royal Horticultural Society in Vincent Square, London.

41-year-old William Simon Jacques, of no fixed abode, was found guilty on 22 June at Southwark Crown Court of the theft of a quantity of antique books from the Society and of going equipped to steal.

He was jailed on Tuesday, 20 July, for three and a half years.

The MPS appealed for assistance in tracing Jacques after he breached his bail conditions following his arrest in April 2007 in connection with the theft. He had been arrested in the Lindley Library of the Royal Horticultural Society following an investigation into the theft of books missing from the library.

They were 13 volumes of ‘Nouvelle Iconographies des Camellias’ by Verschaffelt valued at approximately £50,000. The volumes contain an array of coloured plates (images) of Camellias and explanatory text.

Jacques was bailed to return to a police station while enquiries continued, but subsequently went missing. Acting on intelligence, he was arrested by North Yorkshire police on Christmas Day.2009. He was subsequently charged, convicted and sentences as above.