Man denies stealing Bronze Age gold jewellery

The "irreplaceable" items were stolen from St Fagan's National Museum of History in Cardiff

A man accused of stealing gold jewellery dating to the Bronze Age from a museum has pleaded not guilty.

Several items were stolen from a display case at St Fagans National Museum of History in Cardiff on 6 October.

Gavin John Burnett, 43, of Berrywood Close in Northampton, appeared via video-link at Northampton Crown Court on Wednesday and denied burglary of artefacts and jewellery from the museum.

He also denied three other charges including conspiracy to commit burglary, conspiracy to steal a motor vehicle and making threats to kill in Northamptonshire between 28 July and 14 August.

He was remanded in custody and is expected to stand trial in April.

His co-defendant Darren Paul Burnett, 50, of Sharrow Place, Northampton, also appeared via video-link but did not enter pleas.

He is due to appear in court for a plea hearing on 11 December and both men were remanded in custody.

Police said a 45-year-old woman from Northamptonshire was arrested as part of the investigation and is on police bail.

The missing items include four Middle Bronze Age gold armlets from Llanwrthwrl, Powys and an Early Bronze Age gold lunula, a crescent-shaped ornament worn as a necklace, from Llanllyfni, Gwynedd, the force said

They are also looking for five Middle Bronze Age gold items from Carmarthenshire, and three Middle Bronze Age gold items from Heyope, Powys.

Amgueddfa Cymru's chief executive described the stolen items as "invaluable"

Prosecutor Chris Harper told the court that forensic examination of exhibits was ongoing.

Jane Richardson, chief executive of Amgueddfa Cymru, described the stolen items as "invaluable and irreplaceable items that are part of Wales' history, heritage, and culture".

"I'd like to encourage anyone who may have any information about their location to come forward to the police so that they can be returned to their rightful home within Wales' national collection, for everyone to access and enjoy," she said.