The British Museum has launched legal proceedings against a former curator who allegedly stole and damaged up to 2,000 objects from its collection.
The High Court has ordered the suspect, Dr Peter Higgs, to return any of the items he may have. It has also ordered the disclosure of eBay and PayPal records from Higgs’ eBay account, as it is believed that many of the stolen artefacts were listed for sale on the site.
The British Museum launched proceedings against Higgs after announcing that around 2,000 items from its collection were missing, stolen or damaged.
Higgs, who has been investigated by the Metropolitan Police but not charged with an offence, was dismissed for gross misconduct in July 2023.
The museum’s legal representatives, Daniel Burgess and Warren Fitt, told the court there is evidence Higgs “abused his position of trust” between at least July 2009 and January 2018. Higgs has denied all the claims.
Burgess told the court the defendant had attempted to “cover his tracks”, using fake names, creating false documents, altering the museum’s records, and selling items “at an undervalue”, the Independent reports.
Burgess said in his written argument: “The items that have been stolen from the museum are of cultural and historical significance. There is a compelling public interest in their recovery. The museum (and that public interest) will suffer irremediable harm if the items are lost, including because delay in locating them means that they become irrecoverable.”
Stolen artefacts listed for sale on eBay
Justice Heather Williams said there was “cogent evidence” that the British Museum’s allegations may be correct.
The court heard 356 stolen items have been returned to the museum to date. Higgs did not attend the hearing due to poor health. The police investigation is ongoing.
Last month, the British Museum put 10 items stolen from its collection and later recovered on view in a show named Rediscovering Gems.
Images courtesy of the British Museum
