Man admits stealing new Harry Potter pages

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.

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 best-selling 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 had a normal day’s work at Clays. He came out of work and was waiting for a lift.

“On the floor in the car park was this particular item. Some chapters from the new book.

“At that point he should have given them back but he didn’t.

“There was lots of talk about papers offering money for the new book and he saw this as an opportunity.

“He reacted in an instinctive, opportunistic way. He immediately put it into his lunchbox.

“He saw it at that point as good luck. It turned out to be very bad luck.”

Mr Mann said other people then became involved and approaches were made to The Sun and arrests were made.

“He is very much a broken man,” said Mr Mann.

“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.

:: Garry Cox, 18, of Harleston, Norfolk, denied receiving stolen goods. His case was also adjourned to a later date.