Man wanted for stealing £3m in Viking treasure mocked cops for using his 'hungover' mugshot

George Whittaker, 43, from Wales, utilized a antithetic sanction connected societal media truthful helium could mock constabulary implicit the mugshot they utilized successful a wanted entreaty of him. He said they could person utilized a amended photo

A antheral who was jailed for stealing £3million of Viking treasure has mocked constabulary for the mugshot they utilized of him successful a marque caller appeal.

George Whittaker, besides known arsenic George Powell, complained that helium looked "hungover" successful the photograph posted by Gwent Police successful Wales. The unit shared the representation successful a bid to callback Whittaker to situation for breaching his licence conditions.

He was antecedently jailed aft helium failed to state the unearthed coins, jewellery and metallic which dated backmost to 1,000 years. The now-43-year-old was convicted astatine Worcester Crown Court of theft, conspiracy to conceal transgression spot and conspiracy to person transgression property.

Gwent Police said successful a statement: "We’re appealing for accusation to find George Whittaker, 43, - besides known arsenic George Powell - who has breached his licence conditions. He received a situation condemnation for the offence of theft and pursuing a breach of his licence conditions is being recalled to prison. He has links to Newport."

However, Whittaker told constabulary helium didn't similar the photograph utilized successful the entreaty and said they should person utilized a amended one. He wrote his ailment nether the illustration sanction George Dennis Blackbeard.

Police rapidly deleted his remark from the force's social media page but Whittaker went connected to deed retired astatine his sentence, saying: "I was convicted successful 2019 for uncovering treasure successful a tract that I had support to beryllium on. Assumptions recovered maine blameworthy and I received 6 and fractional years successful jail.

"Rapists don't get anyplace adjacent that condemnation and what I did wasn't a transgression due to the fact that arsenic you know, nary 1 reported it mislaid oregon stolen with it being successful the crushed for 1500 years. I was fortunate capable to find it and state the items but hearsay and the corruption sent maine to prison, distant from my children, household and friends.

"I'm not moving from thing and seemingly I'm being recalled backmost to situation for missing an assignment I don't merit particularly aft serving a ample condemnation for a 'never-heard-of so-called' crime. I've paid for what I had not done and a ample condemnation astatine that. Drug dealers, rapists and different individuals who destruct lives ne'er get that long. I person committed nary transgression since I served my condemnation and been released. I stole thing past I person stolen thing now."

He was ordered to wage backmost £601,250 by Worcester Crown Court successful 2022 astatine a Proceeds of Crime Hearing but has ne'er told anyone what helium did with the coins. He said: "The determination of find inactive remains a mystery. Only I cognize this information, retired of everyone connected the planet."