Three medieval vases stolen from an archaeological dig in Bath are back where they belong after being missing for five years – thanks to two city centre police officers.
PCs Peter Hunt and Gemma Kirby turned treasure hunters when one of the Bellarmine vessels, dating from 1650, turned up for sale on eBay.
They worked with the Museum of London Archaeology, which carried out the excavation during the redevelopment of the SouthGate shopping centre, and tracked down the likely thief to a narrowboat on the river in Oxfordshire.
At Bath magistrates’ court the 35-year-old man, who worked for the Museum of London, admitted theft. He was given a four-month suspended prison sentence, ordered to carry out 270 hours of unpaid community work, and to compensate the man who bought the vase from him on eBay.
PCs Hunt and Kirby presented two of the recovered vases – the third will follow shortly – to Museum of London archaeologist Bruno Barber and Roman Baths manager Stephen Clews (see picture above).
After further examination in London the vases will eventually be returned to the Roman Baths Museum.
PC Hunt said: “It was one of the more unusual crimes I’ve had to investigate, and it’s a great pleasure to be able to play a part in returning items of Bath’s heritage to their rightful owner.”
Roman Baths manger Stephen Clews said: “These vases are very important to us because we don’t have many objects and artefacts from medieval Bath that give us a better picture of that period in the city’s history.”