A man from Hailsham has been jailed for five years following a four year investigation into the discovery of a multi-million pound treasure haul.
West Mercia Police was alerted in 2015 to an unreported large treasure find from the metal detecting community and the British Museum. A find such as this should be reported to the local Coroner’s office, in this case Herefordshire, under the terms of the Treasure Act (1996).
During the investigation, Herefordshire detectives unearthed that two of the convicted men had visited the site at which the hoard, including Anglo-Saxon coins, jewellery and silver ingots, was found earlier that month (June 2015). The treasure is described as of national importance both for Anglo-Saxon coinage and for the wider understanding of a key period in English history.
Three out of the four men involved have today (Friday 22 November) been sentenced, after all four were found guilty, in relation to a treasure hoard worth an estimated £3million discovered in Eye, Herefordshire. A fourth man will be sentenced on 23 December.
Simon Wicks, 57, of Hawks Road, Hailsham, (pictured) was found guilty conspiracy to conceal criminal property and conspiracy to convert criminal property received five years in prison.
George Powell, 38, from Newport and Layton Davis, 51 from Pontypridd and Paul Wells from Cardiff were both jailed for a combined total of eighteen and a half years, and Paul Wells, 60, from Cardiff will be sentenced on 23 December.
It is believed there are outstanding coins and we would appeal to anyone within the community of metal detectorists or coin dealers, as well as the wider community, that may have seen coins or treasure from this hoard to contact West Mercia Police on 101.
Herefordshire local policing commander, Superintendent Sue Thomas said: “This unusual investigation is one of national significance and I am pleased to see the three men who were found guilty yesterday have now been given a combined total of 23 years in prison.”
She continued: “I hope this demonstrates how seriously we take this sort of crime in Herefordshire and it is a criminal offence to not declare finds of treasure to the local coroner’s office.”
Detective Constable Nigel Cleeton, investigating officer for the operation said: “I am pleased to see such a substantial sentence for the individuals who stole and concealed parts of the treasure hoard found in Eye, Herefordshire.”
He continued: “I do believe there are coins outstanding and I would ask anyone within the community of metal detectorists or coin dealers as well as the wider community that may have seen or heard of the where-abouts of coins from this hoard to contact me at West Mercia Police by calling 101.”
