A COUPLE who found a hoard ancient gold coins in Great Baddow using a metal detector - and then failed to declare the find - were sentenced at Chelmsford Magistrates Court today (Friday, 30 April).

The pair were sentenced for offences under the Treasure Act of 1996 after who failing to declare the Iron Age hoard of 933 gold Stater coins.

Shane Wood found the 2,000-year-old treasure while out for a walk in Great Baddow in September last year, and recovered the hoard over several days through illegal metal-detecting. Both he and his partner, Kim Holman, failed to notify the Coroner's Court of the find and kept some of the coins for themselves.

Wood handed the gold coins over to the landowner on 30 September, who in turn handed them to the correct authorities.

However, officers from the Essex Police Rural Engagement Team became aware that some coins were not included in the handover after 62-year-old Wood, of West Hanningfield Road, gave an account of his finding in a magazine. The missing 23 coins were located at Wood's home and were valued at up to £12,350.

A coin held back by 61-year-old Holman, of East Road in Chadwell Heath, was valued at £300.

The pair both pleaded guilty to a charge of finding an object believed to be treasure and failing to notify the coroner. Wood also pleaded guilty to theft by finding.

Wood was sentenced to an 18-month community order with 200 hours of unpaid work and was fined £200.

The court ordered his metal detector to be forfeited and destroyed.

Holman was fined £299 for her part in the crime.

Police Constable Andrew Long, Essex Police's Rural and Heritage Crime Officer, said: "This prosecution demonstrates that we take heritage crime seriously. This type of offence not only steals from the landowner, but also from the nation by stealing our history.

"We know most metal detectorists are law-abiding and we appreciate their support in prosecuting the tiny minority of criminals in the hobby.

"I would like to thank the hard work of our partners in The British Museum, the Crown Prosecution Service and Historic England for their help with this case."