Peter Sahnow (pictured) stole more than £1,100 pounds worth of books in a year
A serial book thief has been banned from every branch of Waterstones in the country.
Pensioner Peter Sahnow stole more than £1,100 pounds worth of books in a year from his local store in St Albans, hoping to sell them over the internet.
Sahnow started stealing books to clear his debts, having sold all of his own and that of his mother.
The 72-year-old appeared at St Albans Crown Court to plead guilty to three offences of theft after staff finally cottoned on to his repeat visits.
Over the course of a year, Sahnow had regularly walked into the shop in St Peter’s Street, St Albans before sneaking out again with books he had not paid for.
The three charges covered 40 books, which police were able to recover when they searched his home in Bricket Wood, St Albans.
Karl Volz, prosecuting, said: ‘When he had exhausted his supply and his mother’s he resorted to stealing books from Waterstones. It was done for commercial gain.’
Judge Stephen Warner was told that Sahnow, a retired IT manager had been hording the books at his home, when he was finally caught and all were returned to the store.
Carina Clare, defending, said the pensioner was now ‘extraordinarily remorseful and embarrassed’.
She added that his wife of 43 years was disgusted with him over his thieving, telling the court: ‘It was systematic dishonesty.’
He was sentenced to six months imprisonment, which was suspended for 21 months.
Sahnow will also have to complete a 15-day rehabilitation activity requirement and pay £200 court costs.
He was also made the subject of a two-year exclusion order banning him from entering any Waterstones branch in the country.
Sahnow started stealing books from Waterstones in St Albans to clear his debts, having sold all of his own and that of his mother.