AN AMATEUR collector has pleaded guilty to the theft of a 147-year-old book worth £100,000.

The inscribed first edition of Victorian botanist Charles Darwin's Origin of the Species was taken from Down House, Luxted Road, Downe, in February 2004.

Amir Ladak, of Meadvale Road, Ealing, admitted stealing the book from the Victorian botanist's former home and was fined £3,000 at Croydon Crown Court on September 11.

Ladak, aged 51, was also ordered to carry out 100 hours of unpaid community work and pay £115 costs.

Prosecuting, Hamish Reid said Ladak was caught after he committed a similar offence on July 10 last year.

Ladak removed a dust cover worth £5,000 from a Graham Greene book at Sothebys in New Bond Street.

He left fingerprints which turned out to match those taken at the Darwin Museum and he was arrested.

Mr Reid said: "He told officers, This has happened before'.

"A search was made but the book could not be found. There were books piled up in all the rooms.

"When he was charged at Bromley police station on July 25 with theft, he made no reply.

"He was bailed and, as he was being escorted out, he said, I can't live with this any more. I'll give the book back. I have still got it.' "Police again went to his home and he led them to the loft. He went to the far corner and pulled out a bin liner with the book inside. It was in good order."

Mitigating, Anne-Marie Critchley said: "It all came about through his love for books. On neither occasion did he seek to sell them, if he had, he would have made a substantial profit.

"He simply enjoyed possession of the book. He had started to contemplate how to give it back when he was caught."

Judge Nicholas Ainley told Ladak: "This was motivated by your covetous desire to possess priceless artefacts."

English Heritage, which received the book from Bromley police last month, is considering whether to display it again.