Boys in Potter book theft discharged

The book is the fifth Harry Potter book by JK Rowling

Two 16-year-old boys who were involved in a plot to sell stolen pages from an unpublished Harry Potter novel to a newspaper have been given absolute discharges.

Lowestoft Youth Court was told on Friday that one of the boys has written to JK Rowling apologising for his part in the crime.

The two boys, who cannot be named for legal reasons, had admitted handling pages from the Harry Potter book after pages were stolen from Clays Printers in Bungay, Suffolk.

Donald Parfitt, 44, a forklift truck driver from Worlingham, Suffolk admitted to the theft of the pages on Wednesday.

American holiday

The boys also admitted to being involved in a plot to sell the pages to the Sun newspaper for £25,000.

But after arranging a meeting with reporters, they were arrested by police.

The Harry Potter books are being made into popular films

The Youth Court heard that the boys were extremely sorry for their behaviour.

One of the boys said he had wanted the money to pay for a trip to America for his family.

Both pledged never to appear in court again.

The latest Harry Potter Book, Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, is being printed at Clays Printers.