Two Blokes Accused of Dishonestly Selling 'Tainted' Gold and Silver Artefacts

 

 You are going to court, and this is how you decide to dress:
Robert Long and John Fisher (Pix via SWNS) 

Two men have denied accusations of dishonestly dealing in historic artefacts including trying to sell a rare Bronze Age sun disc to the British Museum.

Robert Long, 72, and John Fisher, 41, face a string of allegations relating to items illegally dug up but not declared as treasure. Both are accused of illegally dealing “tainted cultural objects” between November 2021 and January 2022.[...]

It is not explained how, if the charges are true, these two guys would have actually found the items in the first place in order to be in a position to dig them up. It is a mystery. Long, of Kirby Cane, Norfolk:

"is said to have offered the gold sun disc to the British Museum claiming to have found it in his garden and hoping to claim thousands through the treasure process. [...] Long pleaded not guilty at Norwich Crown Court to 12 charges including theft, fraud by false representation, dealing in tainted cultural objects, handling stolen goods, concealing criminal property and income tax evasion. Also among the allegations are theft by finding of a silver vervel ring – a ring attached to hawks to identify ownership. It is also alleged he sold three illegally dug up gold finger rings on eBay and dishonestly failed to disclose to insurers that a silver mount was fake.

John Fisher of Oulton, Norfolk on the other hand,

"pleaded not guilty to handling stolen goods and money laundering over the sale of the Bronze Age sun disc. He also denies a charge of theft by finding relating to a medieval gold finger ring at Bungay between 2018 and 2020. Judge Katherine Moore set a date in November 2027 for both men to stand trial over the charges.

The trial, estimated to last 10 days, is expected to hear evidence from prosecution historical experts.