Rare coin collector choked to death after gold sovereign thief ‘gagged him with a sock’

A COIN collector was murdered for his valuable hoard, including gold sovereigns, by a burglar who stuffed a sock into his mouth, a court heard.

Anthony Bubbins, 57, had spent a lifetime building up a stockpile of rare coins and ornaments until his death in January. He was allegedly killed by burglar Paul Paget, 54, who tied him up and forced a sock into his mouth – causing him to swallow his tongue.

Paget, of St Julians, Newport, South Wales, has admitted burgling Mr Bubbins’s home but denies murder.

Caroline Rees QC, prosecuting, told Newport Crown Court: “The victim was a vulnerable man living alone.

“He was found with his hands tied behind his back with a 22cm sock pushed into his mouth. It forced his tongue into his airway.”

The court heard Mr Bubbins “led a reclusive life” but in the weeks leading up to his death had allowed Paget to take items from his house to sell at a nearby shop. Ms Rees said Paget knew Mr Bubbins had “a potential treasure trove” at his house and was “in need of money”.

“He had established knowledge of the address and that it was a potential treasure trove.”

She said CCTV showed Paget enter Mr Bubbins’s house on Jan 9 and that Mr Bubbins was never seen alive again, adding: “Paget sold gold sovereigns and another coin for £655 the next day at City Treasures in Newport.”

The trial, which is expected to last three weeks, continues.