Police caution wrecks offender

It follows a joint investigation by Sussex Police, English Heritage and the Receiver of Wreck.

By law, all recovered material must be reported to the Receiver so legal owners have a chance to regain their property.

Regardless of the age, size or potential value of the material recovered, the legal owner is always entitled to its return.

Failing to report recovery to the Receiver of Wreck is a criminal offence.

Alison Kentuck, who is the Receiver of Wreck, said: “It isn’t a case of ‘finders, keepers’. On this occasion, alleged offences included damaging protected historic wrecks and removing material from them.

“They also included recovery of a significant quantity of wreck material from Sussex beaches, notably from the Anne, a 70-gun ship of the line run ashore in Rye Bay and burnt after the Battle of Beachy Head in 1690, and the Amsterdam, a Dutch ship beached at Bulverhythe in 1749 after the crew mutinied.”

Det Insp Ian Williams, of Bexhill CID, said: “Heritage crime is taken seriously by the police and courts.

“We recognise the need to protect our national assets and are dedicated to increased working together with other agencies to do so. I am pleased that we were able to recover artefacts of significance.”