Backpacker fined for theft of library items

By David Clarkson

A French backpacker who admitted stealing library books in Christchurch has failed in his bid for the case to be handled under the diversion scheme for first offenders.

Diversion allows people to avoid a conviction if they admit the offence and then make amends in some way.

Guillaume Ferdinand Pringault, 22, and a fellow French backpacker, were charged with theft by a person in a special relationship over an incident in Christchurch in March but the case was sent to Queenstown in June for diversion to be considered.

Police evidently did not grant it because the case was called in the Blenheim District Court this week where Pringault admitted the charge of theft by a person in a special relationship and was fined $500 and ordered to pay reparations of $3571.

Police said the pair were working for a contractor who was employed to remove books from an earthquake damaged Christchurch City Council library building, and they took five books and two historical maps.

They left the books in their vehicle with the window down, and the books and maps sustained severe water damage. They had attempted to hide the identification of the books by removing the identifying features.

Both men told police they took them home to read, intending to bring them back.

Reparations of $13,925 was originally sought for the damage.

The damaged items were L?Afrique en plusieurs carter nouvelle worth $9767, a Book of Common Prayer worth $3183, a map of ancient England, value unknown, Moses and Aaren 4th edition, value unknown, Statuyten vande nonnen chartriosinnen from 1690, value unknown, Kearsleys Peerage, worth $154, and a map of Lincolnshire, worth $821.

The outcome of the case for the other man charged is not known.