A metal detectorist has pleaded guilty after admitting that some of his “historic” discoveries were not actually so, per the BBC.
Between September 2019 and August 2023, a series of finds were submitted to the Finds Officer at Lincolnshire County Council. The person submitting the purported artifacts, 54-year-old Jason Price, allegedly told the Lincolnshire City Council’s Finds Officer that the items were authentic historical artifacts that he’d found while using his metal detector in the Roxholm and Long Bennington areas. area. Included amongst Price’s haul was a brooch, a cache of Roman coins, and several figurines of unspecified origin.
Discoveries Proved Suspicious
However, the Finds Officer found something suspicious about the sudden rash of “artifacts,” and so contacted local authorities. Following an investigation, it was determined that the artifacts were not actually found by Price. It’s unclear how he came into possession of the artifacts. Price, a native of Purcell Close, in Grantham, was then summoned to Lincoln Crown Court on Sept. 11. There, he was charged with four counts of fraud; Price pleaded guilty to each. A sentence and “trial of facts” has been set for Nov. 7, 2024.
Price Granted Bail
Ahead of his November court date, Price was granted bail and allowed to go home following last week’s court date. Over the next two months, the sentencing judge instructed Price to prepare a “probationary report,” indicating that he could avoid jail time for the episode. However, despite the probationary report and Price’s guilty plea, the defendant was warned by authorities “that all options were open to the sentencing judge.”
