Police are on the hunt for a metal detectorist who uncovered and then stole a £3 million hoard of Viking gold. George Powell, along with his accomplice Layton Davies, made the discovery of ancient jewellery and coins dating back over 1,000 years in 2015. The pair attempted to profit from their find by selling the items on the black market. The hoard, found near farmland in Eye, Herefordshire, consisted of valuable artefacts such as a ninth-century gold ring, a dragon’s head bracelet, a silver ingot, and a crystal rock pendant. Additionally, they unearthed up to 300 coins, including some minted during the reign of King Alfred, also known as Alfred the Great, who ruled between 886 and 899.
Powell was scheduled to appear in court for sentencing earlier this month after failing to repay £600,000, as ordered by the judge during his initial sentencing where he was given a six and a half year prison term. However, he failed to appear for his hearing at Birmingham Magistrates’ Court on January 8, leading to a warrant being issued for his arrest. Only a fraction of the stolen items, specifically 31 coins and pieces of jewellery, have been recovered so far. The majority of the hoard remains missing.
In 2019, Powell, Davies, and two coin sellers were convicted of conspiring to hide the treasure. Judge Nicholas Cartwright criticised their actions, stating they had cheated the public and acted out of greed and selfishness. Powell received a 10-year prison sentence, later reduced to six and a half years on appeal, while Davies was initially sentenced to eight and a half years, which was later trimmed to five years. The treasure, believed by historians to be Anglo-Saxon and potentially hidden by Vikings, sheds new light on the history of England and the alliances between different rulers.
The missing hoard is set to go on display at Hereford Museum, following a successful fundraising campaign to acquire it. The case highlights the importance of complying with laws and regulations regarding the discovery and preservation of historical artefacts.