Man in court after high-value museum raid

5 hours ago

News image — A carved ivory Buddha and a belt buckle from the East India Company uniform were among the items taken

Bristol Museum A carved ivory buddha with robes in a cross-legged position. It sits next to a circular belt buckle with a laurel motif with the words "Auspicio Regis et Senatus Angliae". — A carved ivory Buddha and a belt buckle from the East India Company uniform were among the items taken

A man has appeared before magistrates after hundreds of items were stolen from a city museum collection.

Items including military badges and pins from the East India Company, and carved Buddha statues, were taken from Bristol Museum's British Empire and Commonwealth Collection, in Cumberland Road, in the early hours of 25 September last year.

Dean Hall, 41, from Redcliffe, Bristol, has been charged with handling stolen goods.

He was given unconditional bail and he is next due at Bristol Crown Court on 17 August.

The charges relate to an ongoing investigation into a high-value burglary from a building in the Cumberland Road area of Bristol, Avon and Somerset Police said.

More than 600 artefacts of various descriptions were thought to be taken during the break-in, police added.

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