Courtesy of the Essex Chronicle Nov 5, 2009
TWO men dubbed the Indiana Joneses of Essex have spoken of their relief at being cleared of stealing Pounds 2,000 worth of Bronze Age artefacts from a field.
Paul Hitchens, 57, from Cedar Close, Hutton, and his son Paul Anthony Hitchens, 35, of High Cross Lane, Little Canfield, near Dunmow, vehemently deny they were 'nighthawking' on farmland owned by Lord Braybrooke, of Audley End House, near Saffron Walden.
Nighthawking is the term given to metal detectors who go on land late at night without the owner's permission and keep what they find.
Mr Hitchens Sr said: "We had been metal detecting late at night on Clacton beaches and we were so tired we decided to stop in a lane on the way home.
"My son fell asleep and was snoring so I decided to have a look in a ploughed field and found an axe head on the surface.
"I was so excited I woke Paul and we found more axe heads, two spearheads and a chisel, we think they were offerings to the gods.
"We were going to declare them later, but the police arrived thinking we were stealing metal from a nearby electricity substation and took the hoard away."
Speaking at Ipswich Crown Court this week, Mr Hitchens Jr said: "It's horrible to be accused of something you haven't done but it is my passion to discover history and share it with others."
The Hitchens were found not guilty in a crown court test case, closely watched by treasure hunters throughout the country.
The verdict has implications for all who head out to the countryside with metal detectors in search of treasure.
