Thursday, 19 September 2019

Metal detectorist sentenced to "Thinking Activities" for not handing over gold coin


Think before you steal  
A man who found a gold coin in Trefeglwys appeared in court for failing to notify the coroner and keeping the profits for himself (Court Reporter, 'Metal detectorist sentenced for not handing over Trefeglwys gold coin' Powys County Times 19th sept 2019)
Welshpool Magistrates’ Court heard on Tuesday that Tom Martin Fielding, 32, of Elsenham Road, Grimsby, failed to notify the coroner and fraudulently sold the coin for £850 in Bishops Castle. He admitted these two charges, as well as breaching a community order. The court heard that Fielding runs a group called the Shropshire and Wales Metal Detecting Club and that on a dig, three gold coins were found, two dating back to James I and one to Charles I. Fielding was prosecuted over a James I laurel coin from 1624. [...] Fielding sold the coin to Michael Clarke in Bishops Castle, and then it was sold on eBay. [...] Fielding was given a 12-month community order, with 15 rehabilitation activity requirement days, addressing thinking skills, and 100 hours of unpaid work. He was also told to pay £850 in compensation.
Grimsby is the other side of the country from "Shropshire and Wales" and Bishop's Castle. To whom was the compensation paid? The landowner?


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