The British man who said he accidentally smashed three Qing dynasty vases in a Cambridge museum in January was arrested yesterday.
Nick Flynn, an unemployed artist, tripped and fell down a staircase and into the unprotected porcelain vases dating from the 17th century. They ended up in 400 pieces on the floor.
Cambridge police said he was arrested at home and faces charges of criminal damage.
Fiona Brown, a spokeswoman for the Fitzwilliam, Cambridge University's art and antiquities museum, said the museum was notified after the arrest. 'It's purely a police matter. Obviously, the museum, under the circumstances, can't comment.'
Flynn was a frequent visitor to the museum until the accident. He claimed the accident happened because of his clumsiness as he was turning around on the museum's main staircase. He said he tripped on his shoelaces and fell on to a window sill where the three vases were standing.
Museum officials tried to ban Flynn from returning after the incident, but relented after word got out.