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Man who stole £300k worth of books sentenced

Ben Parker
BBC News, Suffolk
Reporting fromIpswich Crown Court
East Anglia News Service Christopher Nunn with slicked back hair holding his coat up in front of his face. East Anglia News Service
Christopher Nunn previously appeared at Ipswich Magistrates' Court in February

A man who stole £300,000 worth of legal books has been handed a suspended prison sentence.

Christopher Nunn, 42, admitted the theft from the firm LexisNexis, between March 2019 and September 2023.

Nunn of Meadow Gardens, Beccles, Suffolk will have to carry out 200 hours of unpaid work as part of his sentence.

Judge John Brook-Smith said Nunn had escaped an immediate sentence by the "slimmest of margins" because the "impact on your children would be significant".

Summarising the case, the prosecutor said Nunn had been working at CPI William Clowes printers in Beccles since 2008.

The firm produced legal texts for LexisNexis, printing them and then sending them to buyers.

The court heard that Nunn had worked night shifts and had access to where books were stored.

It was said that Nunn had stolen books from the warehouse and sold them on Amazon, offering a discount on the usual price.

The theft was discovered after a buyer contacted the firm asking how the Amazon listings were so cheap.

A company listed as the seller on the site under UK Top Sellers was tracked to Nunn.

He was suspended by CPI William Clowes and then resigned before he was arrested in October 2023.

The prosecution said £205,000 was brought in from sales on Amazon, with the retail value of the goods sold of £329,000.

East Anglia News Service A man wearing a mask from the horror film Scream, raising his right arm in a wave. He has a black polo shirt on.East Anglia News Service
At a previous hearing Christopher Nunn came to Ipswich Crown Court wearing a scream mask

Nunn's defence barrister Edward Renvoize argued that there was "nothing sophisticated" about his crimes and that his client had "low to average intelligence".

The judge said Nunn had committed the crime whilst having gambling debts and accepted that he had shown some remorse and the case had been "hanging over his head".

A further hearing will decide on what should be done with any proceeds of crime.

Google A white building with two signs that read "Wine Vaults" and "Bar&Restaurant" hanging outside. The window panels and door are painted dark grey. Google
Christopher Nunn admitted stealing £300,000 worth of books

Nunn owns the Wine Vaults Bar and Restaurant in Beccles, Suffolk.

In April the venue had its licence revoked by East Suffolk Council following the conviction.

East Suffolk Council's licensing sub-committee said it decided to take the licence away as Nunn's conviction was "incompatible with the promotion of the licensing objective for the prevention of crime and disorder".

Nunn is appealing that decision.

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