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Jason Price, a funeral director and amateur metal detectorist from Grantham, was found guilty of deceiving thousands by fabricating the discovery of an ancient Roman brooch. In 2019, he claimed to have uncovered a small copper-alloy horse figurine near Leasingham, Lincolnshire, securing £5,000 so the item could be displayed in a museum. However, investigations revealed that Price had purchased the brooch on eBay and deliberately planted it to exploit the local heritage.
Price, aged 54 and a former Royal Navy serviceman, initially presented the Leasingham horse brooch as a significant archaeological find during a charity event called Detecting for Veterans. The brooch, which stands less than 5 inches tall with a distinctive long curved neck, was exhibited at The Collection Museum in Lincoln and featured on the television show Great British History Hunters. Suspicion arose when Price submitted other purported Roman artifacts to the council’s finds liaison officer, Dr Lisa Brundle, earlier this year. Subsequent testing by Historic England determined the brooch did not date earlier than the 16th century, confirming the deception.
Will Mason, head of culture at Lincolnshire County Council, explained that Price “knowingly” misled experts who initially authenticated the brooch and betrayed the trust of thousands of visitors intrigued by the discovery. Throughout Price’s submissions, authorities suspected that many of the 188 items he reported had been “seeded” — a term for items planted rather than genuinely excavated. These items included another horse figurine, a Roman knee brooch, an axe, and a collection of Roman coins. When Dr Brundle requested access to the coin discovery site, Price claimed it was inaccessible. Police later found a replica horse brooch during a search of his home.
During police questioning, Price first denied any wrongdoing but eventually admitted to purchasing the brooch online and fabricating the story. The court heard that his motivation included prompting the council to conduct an excavation at a site in Long Bennington. Price pleaded guilty to four counts of fraud by false representation, corresponding to claims made between September 2019 and August 2023. Dr Brundle described the episode as a “betrayal” that undermined confidence in authentic archaeological finds and diverted valuable resources.
Representing Price, Damian Sabino highlighted his client’s previously good character, military service, and local business standing. Price repaid the £5,000 and expressed remorse through his counsel, apologizing to the wider community and distancing himself from metal detecting activities. Recorder Nicholas Bacon KC acknowledged the initial excitement and rarity of the brooch find but emphasized the severity of the offense, justifying a custodial sentence. Nevertheless, the judge suspended a 12-month prison term for two years, mandating rehabilitation days, unpaid work, court costs, and compensation payable to the county council. Mason commented that such fraud cases remain rare thanks to thorough examination procedures
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