Wildlife fanatic's heist of books

Jul 24 2008 by Brian Daniel, The Journal

A NATURE fanatic who stole hundreds of wildlife books worth thousands of pounds from libraries and a shop was yesterday given a 12-month supervision order.

Alan Hunter Birchall, 43, of Storey Crescent, Newbiggin-by-the-Sea, Northumberland, was also ordered by Alnwick magistrates to pay £200 costs and £23 compensation towards the cost of a book he stole which was not recovered.

Birchall had pleaded guilty on a previous appearance to one charge of theft from the shop and two of handling stolen goods.

Prosecutor Jonathan Moore told the court how a member of staff at the Barter Books second hand store in Alnwick carried out a stock-check earlier this year which revealed that the book The Game of Birds and Wildfowl, worth £46, was missing.

The shop’s CCTV footage was reviewed and it showed Birchall in the store at 4pm on January 23, removing books from display, placing them in his clothing and leaving without offering to pay.

On February 8, Birchall was seen in the store’s natural history section, moving books around. Footage showed the defendant leaving the premises and driving off in a green car, with at least two books which were missing from display concealed in his pocket.

Birchall’s wife Heather could also be seen on the CCTV apparently exchanging signals with him and keeping watch.

The pair were arrested on suspicion of theft. Officers called at Birchall’s home to search for books on natural history and birds.

In all, police seized 188 books which had been stolen from Barter Books, worth £3,000, and 52 which he had taken from Northumberland Library Services.

Defending, Kate Matthews told the court how her client has an “obsessive personality” and psychiatric problems, as a result of which he steals books.

She said: “Mr Birchall does have a very keen interest in ornithology and natural history. It seems to be quite an obsession...

“He is very remorseful about these offences. He does regret his actions. He says it was an addiction he was not able to control but now he is able to control it.” Magistrates said Birchall’s offences had been committed intentionally and involved a high value and quantity of books, but acknowledged he was remorseful.

His sentence was reduced from 13 months because of his guilty pleas.

Birchall’s wife was given a 12-month conditional discharge by the court at a previous hearing.