Two young men who were involved in the theft of the Wenlok Jug were sentenced to a total of eight years in prison at Luton Crown Court today (March 15).
Ronald Nash, 23, from Tadworth in Surrey, pleaded guilty to handling stolen property and being concerned in the supply of Class A drugs and was given a three years and three months prison sentence.
Louis Kybert, 25, of Barnstead in Surrey, pleaded guilty to the possession of two stun guns which were disguised as moblie phones, and being concerned in the supply of class A drugs. He was given a five year prison sentence with a concurrent three month sentence for breaking a previous suspended sentence.
Sentencing Nash, Judge Joanne Harris said: “It’s clear to me that there are criminals who are far more experienced that you higher up the chain in terms of these offences. I take into account that you have gone into something way above your head.”
Judge Harris described the Wenlok Jug, which is worth over £1 million, as “part of our national heritage”, and said the impact of the theft on the local community on May 12 last year had been huge.
Nash was arrested and charged following an indepth investigation including an appeal on BBC’s Crimewatch.
He was described by family friend Anthony Hart as a “very cheeky” young man with learning difficulties who had attended a special school.
The Wenlok Jug was found wrapped in a towel in a holdall at Nash’s rented garage in Epsom, Surrey.
Police also discovered cutting agents for drugs, traces of MDMA, cocaine and methamphetamine, other drug paraphenalia, body armour and disguised stun guns which Kybert took responsibility for.
The judge said Nash’s behaviour was “reckless”, and said it was clear both men were “frightened of people higher up the food chain” as Nash had been very vague about how the Wenlok Jug and other items came to be in his garage.
The Wenlok Jug:
The wenlok was stolen from a glass case in the stockwood discovery centre in stockwood park, Luton on may 12, 2012.
it was made between 1400-1500ad and is of enourmous historical significance to luton.
it’s believed the jug was given to the wenlok family of luton - possibly william wenlock who died in 1391 and is buried under st mary’s parish church.
the museum purchased the jug for £750,000 in 2006, and it is now valued at over £1 million.
the bronze jug weighs 61kg and is inscribed with the words ‘My lord wenlok’