A forklift truck driver at a printing firm today admitted stealing pages from the new Harry Potter novel.
Donald Parfitt, 44, of Worlingham, Suffolk, found the pages in the car park of the firm where the book is being printed, put them into his lunchbox then tried to sell them to a newspaper.
Magistrates at Lowestoft, Suffolk, adjourned sentencing until June 4 for reports. They told Parfitt that "all options" would be considered.
James Terry, prosecuting, said the theft came to light after a man called James telephoned The Sun on May 5 offering to sell the first three chapters of Harry Potter And The Order Of The Phoenix for £25,000.
He said reporters arranged a meeting and alerted police and Parfitt was subsequently arrested.
Mr Terry said Parfitt worked at Clays printers in Bungay, Suffolk, where the book - which is due out on June 21 and is the fifth of JK Rowling's bestselling series - is being printed.
Parfitt told police that he found the pages in a car park at Clays and saw it as an opportunity to make money.
Richard Mann, defending, said Parfitt was sorry.
"He has said the same thing throughout," said Mr Mann. "He is a man who desperately wishes this whole episode hadn't occurred at all... He is very much a broken man. The whole world knows he has been charged with this high profile offence. His name is now associated with dishonesty. He thinks he's going to lose a lot of friends. He is certainly someone who will lose his job."
Two 16-year-old boys, who cannot be named for legal reasons, admitted receiving stolen property following the theft of the Harry Potter material. Both boys live near Beccles, Suffolk. Their case was adjourned to a later date.
Hmmm, I feel sorry for the guy. He's probably been severely embarrassed by this!
Posted by: rocky at May 20, 2003 11:31 PM