Pensioner avoids a £42,000 fine on 58-year library loan

A PENSIONER who borrowed a book on driving after he was in a crash has returned it 58 years late – but has avoided a £42,340 fine.

David Hickman was just 17 when he borrowed The Law for Motorists in 1964 to swot up after being involved in a car accident in Dudley, West Midlands.

He was waving to a group of teenagers from Dudley High School for Girls when he crashed into the town mayor’s car.

Dudley Magistrates Court fined him £7 – around £175 in today’s money.

After losing the case, Mr Hickman forgot to return the book and took it with him when he moved to London in 1970.

This week Mr Hickman, now 76, drove back to return the book in person.

With overdue fines of 20p a day, librarians could have charged him £42,340 but they waived the fees after hearing his amusing story.

Mr Hickman said: ‘I used to come across it now and then and think “I must pop that back next time I’m in Dudley.” Fortunately, they saw the funny side.’