Amateur Treasure Hunters Stole Nearly $4 Million of King Alfred's Hoard
Two treasure hunters have been sentenced to over a decade in prison collectively after failing to report a treasure hoard that dates over 1,000 years.
The two British men were charged with stealing nearly $4 million worth of treasure from the Anglo-Saxon period and have been forced to pay back over $1.5 million.
Buried Treasure in Britain
Britain's extensive past, dating back thousands of years, has made it a hotspot for buried treasure.
From Celtic gold to Anglican treasures, an immense number of artifacts await discovery beneath the nation's soil.
Treasure Hunters Discover Anglo-Saxon Era Jewels and Coins
George Powell and Layton Davies were two metal detectorists who came across the find of a lifetime when they discovered a cache of jewelry, coins, and silver ingots back in 2015, per The Independent.
The pair had been searching the fields of Eye Court Farm in Herefordshire when they came across the Anglo-Saxon hoard.
The Men Refrain from Disclosing Hoard
According to the British Treasure Act of 1996, all hoards must be reported to the government.
However, Powell and Davies refrained from reporting their lucrative findings and only handed over three worthless coins to the authorities.
Police Begin Investigation into Unreported Treasure
Reports began circulating of an enormous treasure find back in 2015, which caught the attention of the West Mercia Police.
The British Museum and the metal-detecting community helped the police in their investigation, which would later lead to the arrest of the two individuals.
Anglo-Saxon Treasure Sold on the Black Market
Powell, who worked in a warehouse alongside Davies, a school caretaker, began selling various items on the black market after withholding the discovery of treasure from the farm's owner.
Accomplices Simon Wicks and Paul Wells helped them bring in large sums of cash by selling the priceless artifacts.
Treasure Hunters Convicted of Crimes
The men were eventually apprehended by the police after an extensive investigation.
During their 2019 conviction, the amateur treasure hunters were found guilty of conspiracy to conceal criminal property and theft in November 2019.
Amateur Treasure Hunters Receive Prison Sentence
Judge Nicholas Cartwright, who passed their sentence, deemed their acts “greedy and selfish.”
Powell was given six and a half years in prison. Davies received a five-year sentence.
A Small Portion of the Treasure Recovered
According to The Daily Mail, only a portion of the jewelry has been recovered, but the majority is still missing.
Thirty-one coins were also recovered with an estimated value that exceeds tens of thousands of dollars.
Powell Sold the Treasure to a Corrupt Dealer
During the trial, Powell revealed they had sold the bulk of the treasure to a corrupt antique dealer.
He met Simon Wicks at a service station on a busy motorway and exchanged the treasure for a large sum of cash.
The Treasure Hunters Could Have Legally Earned Over $1,000,000
During the 2019 sentencing, Judge Cartwright enhanced the level of regret each man felt during a statement.
According to the judge, had the men reported their findings, they would have earned more than $600,000.
Seven-Year Investigation Comes to a Close
Three years after their initial sentencing, Powell and Davies were ordered to pay back around $750,000 each.
Speaking about the situation at the time, Superintendent Edd Williams, local policing commander for Herefordshire, said: “I'm delighted with today's result, which brings closure to an investigation we have been working on for seven years” (via The Daily Mail).
