Antiques dealer charged with stealing £3M Shakespeare's work from UK

London, January 29 (ANI): An antiques dealer has been charged with stealing a three million pounds worth of first edition of Shakespeare's works from Durham University.

Raymond Scott, 51, was arrested in June last year on suspicion of taking the 1623 First Folio from the university in 1998.

The probe started after the world-renowned Folger Shakespeare Library in Washington DC was asked to verify the genuineness of the book, which was claimed by the person who brought it to have been found in Cuba.

Suspecting that the book was stolen, the experts at the library called in the British Embassy.

When Durham Police and the FBI joined forces to find out the man who had introduced himself to the library staff as an "inter­national businessman", their probe led to Scott, who lived with his 80-year-old mother in a cul-de-sac in Washington, Tyne and Wear.

Scott, however, publicly denied the theft.

The Shakespeare folio was returned to Britain last October.

According to the Daily Express, a Durham Police spokesman said on Wednesday: "Shortly before midday, a 51-year-old man was charged with the theft of a £3million book taken from Durham University more than 10 years ago."

Scott was charged after answering bail at Durham City police station.

He was also charged with four offences - two of handling stolen goods and two of theft - relating to a driving licence, credit cards and a personal organiser.

He was bailed to appear before North Durham magistrates on February 10. (ANI)