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Article: Map thief plundered our National Library.(News)
- Article from:
- Western Mail (Cardiff, Wales)
- Article date:
- December 23, 2004
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 2004 MGN Ltd. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
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Byline: By ROBIN TURNER Western Mail
A bespectacled art thief was jailed for four-and-a-half years yesterday for stealing a part of Welsh history. Former landscape gardener Peter Bellwood stole 50 rare and ancient maps from the National Library of Wales in Aberystwyth.
Some, cut from priceless folios, date back to 1595.
Taking advantage of security at the national library 'not being very high', the 52-year-old made six visits to Aberystwyth by train from his Colchester, Essex, home.
He conned staff into thinking he was an honest map buff ...