Shropshire Star

Landmark Shropshire coin case is discontinued

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. 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.

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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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