A forklift driver has been reprimanded by a UK court after trying to cash in on the hype of the successful Harry Potter novels.

Donald Parfitt, 44, was ordered to do 180 hours of community service after stealing part of the latest novel, "Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix", from the printing firm where he worked.

He was arrested this month after trying to sell the "extract" to The Sun, the UK's biggest tabloid, ahead of the book's release last week.

The Sun said it was keeping the pages at its London headquarters and did not reveal any details of the plot.