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Landmark Shropshire coin case is discontinued
Wednesday 7th July 2010, 9:00PM BST.
Kate Harding
A landmark case against a Shropshire woman who was set to face prosecutors for a second time after failing to report finding treasure – an ancient silver coin she had owned since childhood – has been discontinued.
Senior crown prosecutors from West Mercia have taken the decision not to prosecute Ludlow woman Kate Harding for a second time for an offence of failing to notify a coroner treasure had been found.
Originally, Harding, 23, had admitted failing to notify the coroner after the coin was identified as a rare 14th century piedfort.
In February, magistrates ordered the coin to be handed over and Harding was given a conditional discharge and told to pay £25 towards the £300 court costs.
But at a hearing at Telford Magistrates Court in May, solicitor Mr Brendan Reedy successfully applied for the case to be reconsidered by Ludlow magistrates.
Mr Reedy said it was believed the discovery of the coin pre-dated the 1996 Treasure Act under which a person who finds an object they believe is treasure must notify the coroner. Since then Harding’s conviction has been set aside on her application based on the fact that what she told the court could give her a defence.
Marguerite Elcock, district crown prosecutor for Shropshire and Herefordshire Magistrates Courts team, said: “This case was an unusual one and one which required careful re-consideration. Ms Harding has now handed the object she found to the local coroner who will now complete a treasure inquest.”
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This case should never have been brought. Heads should roll over this incident.
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What the hell were the prosecution thinking of in the first place – and just how much public money has been wasted on this case?
Can I suggest that if some scum-sucking lowlife had broken into Ms Harding’s home and stolen the coin to fund their drug habit they would have been treated more leniently?
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I once had a comment pulled for writing Scum-sucking..
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On the strength of their interest in the legal status of all historical metallic objects, I would like to see the PAS Heritage police write to all Museums in England (only 2,500 of them) to enquire that all objects in their collections have a written provenance which satisfies their obviously high standard of remit. That means to make sure all potential treasure items, how ever acquired (purchased or donated) have their individual Treasure Case number. Especially items pre 1996, just to make sure their “legal status is certain”.
We wouldn’t want everyone to think PAS quangos were trying to make an example out of some unfortunate young girl, before looking closer to home where there must be many thousands of items sitting ILLEGALLY in Museum collections throughout the country.
But of course I am being silly, they would have done that already, wouldnt they..?
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