A LIBRARIAN'S career is in ruins after he stole more than £3,000 in money handed in by readers for services at York Central Library.

John Joseph Clarke, 52, has long been a familiar figure in the library, and had served the city's book lovers and researchers for more than 20 years.

But York magistrates heard that for 13 months he took home money given to staff by the library's users for photocopying and census vouchers. He only stopped when management noticed discrepancies in the library's accounts and started an inquiry.

Clarke, of Tang Hall Lane, York, pleaded guilty to the theft of £3,453.56 from York Library Service and was sentenced to 210 hours' community punishment.

He was ordered to pay £120 court costs. The magistrates said that £3,450 was not an insignificant amount of money, but he had shown genuine remorse and had acted to protect innocent people.

Clarke's solicitor, Alistair Hewitt, said that he was deeply ashamed of what he had done. He had left his job and had promised in his resignation letter to repay all the money.

Prosecutor Jane Chadwick said Clarke took the money between January 2002 and February 2003, when staff management began investigating accounting discrepancies.

When he heard about the inquiry, Clarke went to his manager and confessed that he was responsible.

Mr Hewitt said he did so to prevent suspicion falling on other people.

The money had not gone on high living, but on household goods. Clarke was a junior librarian who did not earn a good salary and lived in a council house.

He had had no motive for the crime, which had been a speculative offence and had cost him his career.

He had been a librarian for more than 20 years and had never been in trouble with the police before. He was now on the dole and looking for work.

Updated: 10:57 Thursday, May 15, 2003