Man’s metal detector ordered to be destroyed

A METAL detectorist who unearthed one of the largest ever hoards of Iron Age coins in Britain and decided to keep 23 of them as a “memento” will have his metal detector destroyed.

Groundworker Shane Wood, 62, found the treasure while on a walk in Chelmsford, Essex, in September last year.

Ashley Petchey, prosecuting, told Chelmsford Magistrates’ Court that “avid birdwatcher” Wood saw a feather fall from a buzzard and noticed a gold item in the field where it landed.

Wood went home to fetch his metal detector and made the discovery, placing the coins into a bin liner.

Mr Petchey said that the hoard of 933 Iron Age gold Staters was “likely to be if not the largest then the second largest such find in Britain”.

He said Wood handed most of them over to the landowner but kept 22 Staters and one quarter Stater, with an estimated value of between £9,850 and £12,350, for himself.

Mr Petchey said Wood did not notify the coroner of the find directly, but instead told a man who used the land who in turn notified the landowner who said he would contact the finds liaison officer.

Wood, of Hanningfield Road, Great Baddow, Chelmsford, admitted the theft of 22 Staters and one quarter Stater.

He also pleaded guilty to failing to notify the coroner of the find of the 933 gold Staters under the Treasure Act 1996.

Wood was sentenced to complete 200 hours of unpaid work as part of an 18-month community order.

His metal detector was forfeited to be destroyed, and he was ordered to pay £200 to the court.