In one of the stranger law cases dealt with in Australia, Leading Seaman Michael Szewczyk was found to have stolen over 1000 books on Naval and Military history, (worth over $200,000), from the Royal United Services Institute Library and Naval Historical Collection Library. Szewczyk, who had served in the RAN for over 20 years, including service in the first Gulf War, (1990-91), was a prolific reader with a love of military books. The magistrate hearing the case found the offence proven but chose to record no conviction due to the sailors previous good character, and the fact that the books were not stolen for any financial gain. Szewczyk, however, was banned from using Defence Force libraries in the future.