One of the men responsible for failing to report and illegally selling the Herefordshire Hoard in 2015 is wanted by Gwent Police.
George Whittaker, who was recently released after receiving a six-and-a-half-year sentence in 2019, has been recalled to jail after breaching parole.
Caught red-handed
George Whittaker, also known as George Powell, was found guilty of theft and concealment of what is today known as the Herefordshire Hoard.
Together with fellow metal detectorist Layton Davies, Whittaker uncovered a stash of ancient coins buried underground near the village of Eye in Herefordshire, England, in 2015.
At that time, the pair were legally obligated under the 1996 Treasure Act to report their findings to the Portable Antiquities Scheme.
Instead, they sought to sell the coins on the black market – a criminal offense. However, the police soon became aware of the movement of the artifacts and began investigating a possible deception.
Whittaker and Davies were eventually arrested, along with two dealers, Roger Pilling and Craig Best, who were charged with concealment.
In 2019, Whittaker was jailed for ten years, Layton for eight and a half years, and Pilling and Best to five years in prison, respectively.
In 2022, Whittaker and Davies were also ordered to repay GBP 600,000 or face an additional five years of imprisonment.
If Whittaker and Davies had reported the hoard, they would have been legally entitled to 50% of any proceeds from its sale. Photo: Gwent Police
Protestations of innocence
Whittaker was released after serving his time, yet he has since made statements on social media suggesting he is far from contrite.
In a now-deleted comment on a post about the case made by Gwent Police, Whittaker said, "I was convicted in 2019 for finding treasure in a field that I had permission to be on. Assumptions found me guilty, and I received six and a half years in jail."
"I'm not running from anything, and apparently, I'm being recalled back to prison for missing an appointment… I've paid for what I had not done and a large sentence at that."
"Drug dealers, rapists, and other individuals who destroy lives never get that long. I committed no crime since I served my sentence and was released. I stole nothing then, and I have stolen nothing now."
It is worth noting that if they had reported their find through the proper channels, Whittaker and Davies would have been legally entitled to 50% of the proceeds of any subsequent sale of the Herefordshire Hoard, with the other half going to the landowner."
In other words, if Whittaker had informed the Portable Antiquities Scheme within 15 days of digging up the coins, he could have not only avoided jail time but also enjoyed a payment directly to his bank account of approximately GBP 750,000 (USD 975,000).
- READ MORE: How to get into Viking treasure hunting
Recovered items from the Herefordshire Hoard include a rock crystal pendant, a gold octagonal ring, a silver ingot, and 29 ancient coins. Photo: British Museum / Herefordshire Council
A return to jail
Unfortunately, some of the artifacts unearthed by the two detectorists have likely been lost forever.
Others, however, have been recovered after an extended campaign by Herefordshire Council and local history enthusiasts.
Working alongside the British Museum and UK police, the team was able to accumulate a significant number of artifacts, including a rock crystal pendant, a gold octagonal ring, a silver ingot, and 29 coins.
The hoard, which has provided valuable insights into trade relations in Viking Age England, was displayed at Jorvik Viking Centre in York earlier this year before being returned to Herefordshire.
Construction is now well underway for a new museum in the city of Hereford that will provide a permanent home for the collection.
Whittaker, on the other hand, is expected to be returned to jail – provided the police are able to track him down.
The statement from Gwent Police is as follows: "We’re appealing for information to locate George Whittaker, 43 – also known as George Powell. He received a prison sentence for the offense of theft, and following a breach of his license conditions, is being recalled to prison."
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