Latest news with #ChesterMagistratesCourt
Daily Mail
25-05-2025
- Daily Mail
Nighthawkers hunted by police after historic Devon castle is targeted by the illegal late night metal detectorists
Illegal metal detectorists have triggered a police hunt after they trespassed the grounds of an historic castle. Officials say they are investigating an incident of 'nighthawking' in Lydford where the intruders left multiple holes in their wake. The target was medieval Lydford Castle and Saxon Town in Lydford on the fringe of Dartmoor. Nighthawking involves trespassing on land and stealing historical objects for profit or personal gain and is considered 'heritage theft'. The area boasts two castles - a post Conquest castle and a 13th century stone tower which was used as a prison. English Heritage manages the protected site which is a tourist attraction. It comes after a gang of five metal detectorists admitted illegally plundering ancient artefacts from protected historic sites during a series of night-time raids. The quintent unearthed and stole bronze axe heads and old coins from Beeston Castle, in Cheshire and the Grade II-listed Roche Abbey in Yorkshire while using metal detectors. According to legend, Richard II is said to have buried royal treasure in the grounds of Beeston Castle, although none has ever been discovered, while Roche Abbey is home to the remains of a 12th Century monastery. Chester Magistrates Court heard English Heritage and police discovered the crime after the grounds at both sites were found littered with holes in December 2019. Analysis of a suspect's mobile uncovered a five-strong nighthawking WhatsApp group, as well as details of their haul. The five appeared at Chester Magistrates last Friday, after the investigation by Cheshire Police, Historic England and South Yorkshire Police. They were handed a five-year CBO banning them from metal detecting at any English Heritage site - a first for Cheshire and the North West. Gary Flanagan, 33, and John Lorne, 29, admitted taking coins and artefacts from Beeston Castle and Roche Abbey in December 2019. Flanagan, of Audenshaw, Greater Manchester, was handed £1,100 in fines and costs while Lorne, of Droylsden, Greater Manchester, must pay £1,760. Daniel Lloyd, 33, and James Ward, 32, both of Droylsden, admitted taking bronze age axe head's and coins from Beeston Castle in December 2019. Lloyd was ordered to pay £600 while Ward - who also admitted producing a small quantity of cannabis - was ordered to pay £1,430. Curtis Barlow, 32, of Droylsden, admitted taking coins and artefacts from Roche Abbey in December 2019 and ordered to pay £572. All five were each ordered to pay an £85 victims surcharge and must forfeit their metal detectors, worth an estimated value of £1,000. Mark Harrison, head of Heritage Crime Strategy for Historic England, said: 'A decade ago we didn't have the techniques necessary to investigate this criminal behaviour. 'We have now developed the expertise, capability and partnerships to identify and prosecute the small criminal minority of nighthawks. Curtis Barlow (left) and Francis Ward (right) were part of the five-strong nighthawking gang Gary Flanagan, 33 (left) and John Lorne, 29 (right) also admitted illegally plundering the sites Daniel Lloyd, 33, of Droylsden, was the fifth gang member banned from metal detecting at English Heritage sites 'The overwhelming majority of metal detectorists comply with the legislation and codes of practice.' Mr Harrison added: 'When thieves steal artefacts from a protected archaeological site, they are stealing from all of us and damaging something often irreplaceable.' English Heritage properties curator Win Scutt said: 'Illegal metal detecting robs us of our past. 'Whilst this prosecution is good news, sadly the damage incidents like these cause can never be repaired. 'Beeston Castle and Roche Abbey are protected in law because of the lessons we can learn from their unique archaeology. 'Unlawful attacks like these can cause such insight to be lost forever.'
Wales Online
21-05-2025
- Wales Online
Woman, 29, stopped by police over car sticker and faced jail
Woman, 29, stopped by police over car sticker and faced jail Georgia Venables, 29, was pulled over by police after she put the sticker on the back of her Peugeot 108 along with dozens of others Georgia faced six months in prison and an unlimited fine A motorist was stopped by police and charged for displaying a bumper sticker. Georgia Venables, 29, had adorned her dark blue Peugeot 108 with the sticker among dozens of others in an attempt to 'customise' her vehicle. However, she was pulled over by a male police officer earlier this year who claimed the sticker bearing the word 'c***' could potentially cause "offence". She was summoned to appear before Chester Magistrates Court where she pleaded not guilty to displaying threatening/abusive writing/sign/visible representation likely to cause harassment/alarm/distress. She was released on unconditional bail and informed that her trial would commence on Thursday, May 29. However, Georgia disclosed that the case has now been dismissed, much to her relief. She stated: "I was told by her solicitor that the Crown Prosecution Service dropped the case as they didn't think there was a realistic prospect of conviction. I am so relieved. I've been stopped over a previous sticker in the past and the officer asked me to remove it - which I did. Georgia with her decorated car Article continues below "But this time, I was stopped for no reason and told that I was going to be summoned to court. It was the same officer both times." Georgia, from Handbridge, Cheshire, has spent £80 customising her car with over 40 "rogue" stickers over the past two years including one featuring Donald Duck raising his middle finger. Some of the stickers read "s*** box certified" and featured an image of Yoda next to the words "If my driving offends you F off". Georgia stated: "I put them on as I liked how they looked - I never put them on to offend anyone. It gave my car a bit of personality and humour." She shared that her neighbours and work colleagues found them amusing, with no one taking issue with them. She recalled: "I once had an old man outside a supermarket standing reading them and chuckling. He said I had a good sense of humour." Georgia revealed she has been stopped by the police five times due to the profanity on her stickers. However, since her most recent court appearance, she explained how the impending trial affected her job as she was required to inform HR. Georgia was accused of a public order offence, which carries a maximum sentence of six months imprisonment and an unlimited fine. She said: "It wasn't a nice thing to go through. I feel that I was targeted because this same officer has pulled me over a few times. "I always removed them when I was told too. I have made a complaint against a different officer in the past, but nothing happened so this time, I left it. I just want the police to leave me alone so I can go about my life because I do like to go for a night drive. "It's the freedom that helps my mental health, but the police pull me over and it's happened so many times that they know me by my first name. From October to January, I was getting stopped twice a week but since I was put on bail for this court appearance, they haven't stopped me once which is I think is very strange. "I would like to thank people who have given me support but I just want to put it behind me now." Article continues below A Cheshire Police spokesman said: "We can't comment on individual cases. However we can reassure residents that all stop checks are conducted fairly, responsibly, with respect for people being searched and without unlawful discrimination. All checks are also conducted in line with the national guidance." The Crown Prosecution Service has been approached for a comment.
