Visitor to V&A’S ‘touching zone’ smashed 17th-century treasure

THE Victoria and Albert Museum’s decision to introduce a “touching zone” backfired after a businessman smashed a 17th-century artefact.

Michael Fadi Said pulled an “irreplaceable” 17th-century banister from a wall while visiting the museum – leaving it in pieces on the floor. Before damaging the artefact on March 3 this year, he “posed” for the CCTV cameras, Hendon magistrates’ court was told.

Said, of Kensington, west London, was due to appear for trial after pleading not guilty to criminal damage, but he did not turn up.

District Judge Helen Clarke found him guilty in his absence and issued a warrant for his arrest.

Angela O’dwyer, prosecuting, said: “The defendant signed in at the V&A reading room with his name and address and thereafter, walking around looking at and touching various objects, he causes criminal damage to a 17th-century banister. This item is what’s known as a ‘touching object’ – members of the public are permitted and even encouraged to touch it. But he goes much further and pulls it off the wall and it breaks into pieces.”

She added: “It will require specialist repair. It is a loss to the visitors, in particular blind and disabled people.”

CCTV was shown to the court of Said wearing a grey top walking through the museum and picking up various objects. When interviewed by police, Said claimed the man in the footage was not him. He said that he used to own an engineering company, but is now living in an easyhotel while sorting out his current address.

The court heard Said had a previous conviction for assault in October last year and was given a suspended jail sentence for making threats to kill in Croatia. He faces a ban from the V&A as well as its sister museums when he is sentenced at a later date.

Said is due to appear at Hendon magistrates’ court to be sentenced once the police track him down.