Roger Pilling, 77, and accomplice Craig Best, 48, from Bishop Auckland, were both jailed at Durham Crown Court in 2023 after being convicted over their attempt to sell valuable Anglo-Saxon coins on the Black Market.

As reported in The Northern Echo, the crime proceeds settlement in the case of Pilling was made by a judge at Teesside Crown Court last week.

Roger Pilling, 77, and accomplice Craig Best, 48, were both jailed at Durham Crown Court in 2023 after being convicted over their attempt to sell valuable Anglo-Saxon coins on the Black Market.

Roger Pilling, 77, and accomplice Craig Best, 48, were both jailed at Durham Crown Court in 2023 after being convicted over their attempt to sell valuable Anglo-Saxon coins on the Black Market.

As reported in The Northern Echo, the crime proceeds settlement in the case of Pilling was made by a judge at Teesside Crown Court last week.

As reported in The Northern Echo, the crime proceeds settlement in the case of Pilling was made by a judge at Teesside Crown Court last week.

The 2023 trial was told he was thought to have held 46 coins dating from 879AD, minted under the rule of King Alfred the Great of Wessex.

The 2023 trial was told he was thought to have held 46 coins dating from 879AD, minted under the rule of King Alfred the Great of Wessex.

(Image: Durham Constabulary) They included two very rare ‘Two Emperor’ coins, issued by King Alfred and Ceolwulf II of Mercia.

(Image: Durham Constabulary) They included two very rare ‘Two Emperor’ coins, issued by King Alfred and Ceolwulf II of Mercia.

All but two of the coins, which were said to hold particular historical and cultural significance, and valued at more than £750,000, were recovered by police after a “sting operation” in Durham in May 2019.

All but two of the coins, which were said to hold particular historical and cultural significance, and valued at more than £750,000, were recovered by police after a “sting operation” in Durham in May 2019.

Undercover officers staged a supposed valuation meeting between Best and a “expert” at The Royal County Hotel, in Old Elvet, at which three of the coins were recovered, while 41 others were seized when police simultaneously raided Pilling’s home in Lancashire.

Undercover officers staged a supposed valuation meeting between Best and a “expert” at The Royal County Hotel, in Old Elvet, at which three of the coins were recovered, while 41 others were seized when police simultaneously raided Pilling’s home in Lancashire.

(Image: Durham Constabulary) Both defendants have since served the custodial element of 62-month prison sentences imposed after the trial in Durham, in May 2023.

(Image: Durham Constabulary) Both defendants have since served the custodial element of 62-month prison sentences imposed after the trial in Durham, in May 2023.

The CPS Proceeds of Crime Division sought a confiscation order for the value of the two still outstanding coins, said to be the most valuable in Pilling’s collection.

The CPS Proceeds of Crime Division sought a confiscation order for the value of the two still outstanding coins, said to be the most valuable in Pilling’s collection.

He previously claimed he had accidentally broken those coins and so discarded them.

He previously claimed he had accidentally broken those coins and so discarded them.

But the court found his account was likely to be untruthful.

But the court found his account was likely to be untruthful.

The coins are thought to have been part of a 300-piece hoard which was found in Leominster, Herefordshire, in 2015, but which were never handed over to the Crown as “treasure”.

The coins are thought to have been part of a 300-piece hoard which was found in Leominster, Herefordshire, in 2015, but which were never handed over to the Crown as “treasure”.

So far only 72 of the coins have been recovered.

So far only 72 of the coins have been recovered.

(Image: The Northern Echo) Adrian Foster, Chief Crown Prosecutor for the CPS Proceeds of Crime Division, said: “Roger Pilling intended to sell these rare and important coins for his own gain.

(Image: The Northern Echo) Adrian Foster, Chief Crown Prosecutor for the CPS Proceeds of Crime Division, said: “Roger Pilling intended to sell these rare and important coins for his own gain.

“He knew that these coins were stolen treasure and instead of choosing to report a crime, he chose to try and profit from it.

“He knew that these coins were stolen treasure and instead of choosing to report a crime, he chose to try and profit from it.

“The CPS worked with the police to value his criminal benefit from the attempted selling of these rare Anglo-Saxon coins. which should have been given to the Crown.

“The CPS worked with the police to value his criminal benefit from the attempted selling of these rare Anglo-Saxon coins. which should have been given to the Crown.

“The Confiscation Order set by the Judge reflects all the assets available to the defendants.

“The Confiscation Order set by the Judge reflects all the assets available to the defendants.

See more court stories from The Northern Echo by clicking here

See more court stories from The Northern Echo by clicking here

Co-accused of Bishop Auckland man to pay £103k over rare coin sale bid

Co-accused of Bishop Auckland man to pay £103k over rare coin sale bid

Case recalled of Bishop Auckland man convicted of coin sale conspiracy

Case recalled of Bishop Auckland man convicted of coin sale conspiracy

Sentence appeal for Bishop Auckland Anglo-Saxon coin seller rejected

Sentence appeal for Bishop Auckland Anglo-Saxon coin seller rejected

“We will always work to ensure that crime does not pay, and criminals cannot benefit from their ill-gotten gains.”

“We will always work to ensure that crime does not pay, and criminals cannot benefit from their ill-gotten gains.”

Mr Foster said over the last five years, £450 million has been recovered from CPS-obtained confiscation orders, ensuring that, "thousands of convicted criminals cannot profit from their offending."

Mr Foster said over the last five years, £450 million has been recovered from CPS-obtained confiscation orders, ensuring that, "thousands of convicted criminals cannot profit from their offending."

He added that of that £88m of that amount has been returned to victims of crime, by way of compensation.

He added that of that £88m of that amount has been returned to victims of crime, by way of compensation.