Man gets jail over expired library books

A man has been sentenced to 10 days in jail after failing to return his library books.

Christopher Anspach was sentenced after pleading guilty to a misdemeanor theft count in connection with his failure to return 27 separate items, including books and other media, he had taken out earlier this year.

Library chiefs valued the 28-year-old man's rented collection at $770.67.

The Pizza Hut worker - who was also fined $625 - failed to respond to mail and a number of calls about the books, which led Newton Public Library to hand the matter over to police.