The Newshound

Art thief who sliced a 350-year-old map from a Greenwich museum atlas is jailed, and it is STILL missing

Judge Charlotte Welsh refused Melvin West, 70, a last-minute adjournment to return the 1684 Nova Orbis Tabula map, saying she did 'not believe a word of it'. His barrister claimed a restorer would not hand it back until his fee was paid. West had visited the Caird Library three times before cutting it out with a Stanley knife. The Met is appealing for anyone who knows where it is.

The Frederick de Wit map is one of only three in the world.

The atlas fell from £50,000 to £20,000 in value after the map was cut out.

West registered for his library reader's card under the name 'Melville West'.

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