All in black and hiding their faces: Powell and Davies arriving at court yesterday (Image: PA) |
George Powell, 38, and Layton Davies, 51, found the trove,[...] they tried to hide its true nature so they could make a fortune on the black market. They decided to sell the coins instead. [...] Coin sellers Simon Wicks and Paul Wells were also convicted on the concealment charge after Powell and Davies contacted them in order to sell the treasure [...] Sentencing on Friday, Judge Nicholas Cartwright said the men had "cheated" not only the landowner, but also the public of "exceptionally rare and significant" coins. He said: "You cheated the farmer, his mother, the land-owner and also the public when you committed theft of these items. [...] Powell was jailed for 10 years while Davies was sentenced to eight-and-a-half years behind bars. Wicks, 56, was jailed for five years while Wells, 60 - who became unwell during Thursday's hearing - will be sentenced on 23 December.
Simon Wicks |
Two detectorists and a coin seller have been jailed for stealing a Viking hoard worth £3 million. George Powell, 38, and Layton Davies, 51, and Simon Wicks, 57 discovered the treasure at a site in Eye, Herefordshire in 2015. The men stole, concealed and then broke up the coin hoard, offering items for sale to private dealers and auctioneers. [...] They were caught after deleted photos showed a much larger hoard on Davies's phone. The recovery of various coins, including five concealed in a magnifying glass case and volunteered to police by the forth member of the group Simon Wells, 60. Powell, of Newport, Wales was described as having the 'leading' role after appearing alongside his co-defendants at Worcester Crown Court today (November 22). He was jailed for 10 years while caretaker Davies, of Pontypridd, Wales received eight-and-a-half years. Wicks, of Halisham, East Sussex, was jailed for five years. All three men were convicted of conspiracy to conceal criminal property, conspiracy to convert criminal property following a six-week trial. [...] Wells, of Rumney, Cardiff was found guilty of conspiracy to conceal criminal property and will be sentenced on 23 December.See also BBC: 'Detectorists jailed for £3m Viking hoard theft' 22nd Nov 2019.
Harriet Brewis, 'Viking treasure thieves who stole hoard worth £12m with metal detectors are jailed', Evening Standard 22nd Nov 2019.
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