Stolen Art Watch, Simon Muggleton's Revenge, Best Served When Retired !!

Antiques Rogue Who Deceived Women

http://www.theargus.co.uk/

An Antiques "Knocker Boy" duped elderly women into selling valuable heirlooms for as little as one hundredth of their true value, a court was told.

Michael "The Ambassador" Underwood appeared on the doorsteps of wealthy widows in Crowbourgh, London and the Isle of Man to persuade them to part with treasured possessions, it is claimed.

His solicitor, Anthony Hershal Blok, is accused of hiding a £300 receipt for a painting Underwood bought worth £30,000 or more on the open market.

Underwood, of Copenhagen Court, Brighton Marina, went to prison in 2006 rather than reveal the fate of the work, entitled "Girls On A Beach" by Sir William Orpen, Brighton Crown Court was told.

He is accused of failing to declare ownership of the work when he filed for bankruptcy in 2002 so it would not be seized to pay his debts.

The court was told that Underwood had been a client of Blok since 1995.

The prosecution claims Blok had files containing the cash proceeds of crime by other clients in his office.

Blok is accused of lying to a court by claiming he did not know the identity of the Orphen painting's owner.

Blok is also accused of failing to pass on information about suspected money laundering by people he represented as a criminal lawyer.

Amanda Pinto QC, prosecuting, said Underwood had tried, since obtaining the painting in 1993, to get it removed from a register of missing and stolen artwork so he could sell it.

She said, "They made concerted efforts to legitimise the painting, which had been obtained in criminal circumstances by Mr Underwood."

Blok, 71, of Gowan Avenue, Fulham, faces charges including two counts of perjury, three counts of failing to disclose evidence of money-laundering, and one count each of transferring criminal property, assisting another to obtain property which was a proceed of crime, and possession of criminal property.

Underwood, 64, of Copenhagen Court, Brighton Marina, is accused of concealing criminal property and perjury.

Underwood has a previous conviction for dishonestly obtaining property from an elderly woman in Chelsea. In that case, retired Sussex Police Art and Antiques Squad Detective Simon Muggleton, of Corsica Road Seaford, traced a stolen Porcelain plaque back to 1948, thereby showing Underwood and his accomplice Lee O'Donell were guilty of deception, for which Underwood was jailed.

Both men deny all charges. The trial is expected to last five weeks.

Art Hostage comments:

This is a case of sweet revenge for ex-Sussex Police Art and Antiques Squad icon Simon Muggleton, who has had a long personal feud with Michael "The Ambassador" Underwood.

Although Simon Muggleton retired a couple of years ago, he doggedly worked to seek his vengeance on Underwood and Blok and with the current court case it seems his vengeance is complete, guilty verdict or not.

To be continued.....................

Stolen Art Watch, Brighton Antiques Mafia, Godfather and Lawyer go on Trial !!

The Crown Court

at Lewes

Daily List for Tuesday 6 May 2008 at LAW COURTS, EDWARD STREET, BRIGHTON.

http://www.courtnews1.co.uk/courtlists/current/lewes_T080506.01.htm
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Court 3 - sitting at 10:00 AM


HIS HONOUR JUDGE HAYWARD

For Trial

T20087048 BLOK Anthony H

T20080064 UNDERWOOD Michael D

Art Hostage comments:

Backstory: http://arthostage.blogspot.com/2008/04/stolen-art-watch-history-provides-clue.html

Intriguing to say the least, I'll keep you posted as and when further news emerges !!

Stolen Art Watch, Rapley's Angel's to the Rescue, Banksy forger in the Frame !!

Art Hostage has learnt that whilst we have many outstanding high value stolen antiques still to be located, not least the majority of Harry Hyams stolen antiques, as well as the Rothschild gold box collection, Lowry's from Manchester, the list is endless. Why, the Brighton Antiques Mafia attack on Hastings Museum as seen in the post below should grab the attention.

Considering this what does Scotland Yards Art and Antiques Squad do ?

Send two glamour officers, dubbed "Vernon Rapley's Angels" in pursuit of a Man called Lee Parker for copying Banksy prints and selling them as originals.

Nice to see they are getting their priorities right !!!

The emergence of glamour officers being seconded to Scotland Yard's Art and Antiques Squad leads Vernon Rapley to declare

"I'm emerging from Michelle !!!"

Stolen Art Watch, Brighton Antiques Mafia Strike Back !!

£50,000 worth of antiques stolen from Hastings Museum
http://www.midsussextimes.co.uk/479/50000-worth-of-antiques-stolen.4042303.jp

Burglars have raided Hastings Museum snatching 33 antiques worth a total of £50,000.
The artefact's - mostly made of silver, glass and ceramic - date as far back as the 17th century and include a lacquered gold elephant tusk vase from Japan.

The thieves gained entry to the building in Bohemia Road between 5pm on Wednesday and 8am the following morning.

The museum was closed yesterday while police collected evidence and doors were expected to open to the public within a couple of days.
Security has been stepped at the premises since the break-in and CCTV tapes are being reviewed by police.

Borough council spokesman Kevin Boorman said: "A lot of care was taken to choose items of value and we think they will be sold on. If any antique dealers are offered anything they suspect is stolen, they should contact police.

"It's very sad that visitors to the town's museum will not be able to see these items which are of international repute and part of Hastings' heritage."

Art Hostage comments:

The sheer desirability of art and antiques theft means Police can only offer a "Hitting corks in a barrel" approach.

These items have already been offered for sale according to an anonymous source.

For every action, there is a reaction !!

Stolen Art Watch, Brighton Antiques Mafia Godfather, Rotten in Denmark !!

Five years jail for dealer involved in Aldsworth robbery


http://www.midhurstandpetworth.co.uk/448/Five-years-jail-for-dealer.4024756.jp

AN ANTIQUES dealer found guilty of conspiracy to handle stolen goods from a robbery in Aldsworth was sent to five years in prison today (April 25).

Philip Capewell (64) must serve at least half of the sentence before being released on licence after the jury at Hove Crown Court found him guilty of the offence.

The stolen items were taken from a violent robbery where an elderly couple were threatened to have their fingernails removed by pliers if they did not hand over antiques to a gang of robbers in balaclavas.

Wolfgang Schmelz (57) and Christopher Doughty (48) who are charged with robbery pleaded guilty to conspiring with Capewell to handle the stolen goods from the Aldsworth robbery.

After the sentence was dealt Detective Sergeant Paul Sellings, of the Major Crime Branch at Sussex Police said:

"Philip Capewell is a sophisticated, professional handler of stolen goods. "Within hours of receiving the stolen property from the Aldsworth house robbery he disappeared then through out the south of England.

"Without such people, thieves are unable to make a profit for their crimes. The sentence handed down today sets a clear message that men like Philip Capewell will be treated seriously by the courts."

During the trial Capewell was found guilty for handling stolen goods on four counts but was found not guilty for the same offence on four counts.

He was also acquitted for conspiring with Daniel Brummer to handle stolen goods.

Walton Hornsby, prosecuting, said that items worth £77,000 were recovered from the Aldsworth robbery which took place in June 2006.

Capewell has appeared in court on five occasions in the past for thirteen offences of handling stolen goods between 1975 to 1987.

Richard Cherrill, defending, said of Capewell 'This man has good in him and not all bad'. He also said that Capewell had been suffering from depression for the last six years.

Judge Guy Anthony said: "You are a professional handler of stolen goods and if there were no handlers there would be few thiefs. I bear in mind your age and less than perfect health.

"You demonstrated no remorse whatsoever and gave no assistance to the police. You are the sort of person that gives antique dealers a bad name."

The jury at Hove Crown Court were unable to give a verdict for the charge of robbery for Schmelz and Doughty and was discharged on Friday (April 24).

The trial will commence again on Jan 5, 2009.

Art Hostage comments:

Note that Phillip Capewell has convictions for handling stolen property going back to 1975 through 1987. Thirteen convictions in all before these latest five.

The fact Capewell dragged out the trial at great cost to the taxpayer, ten weeks, is another factor against Capewell.

Richard "Tricky Dicky" Cherrill could only offer mitigation of:

Richard Cherrill, defending, said of Capewell 'This man has good in him and not all bad'. He also said that Capewell had been suffering from depression for the last six years."

Depression, depression, Well, how about poor Mr and Mrs Williams, Tom and Sarah, whose ordeal has been traumatic to say the least.

Phillip Capewell has, for the last twenty years made enormous amounts of money on the suffering of people like the Williams.

The Judge in this case should, using current sentencing guidelines, given Capewell 1 year for each of the four handling charges, but 10 years for the handling of the Aldsworth House antiques, with an order to pay the Williams at least the £382,000 value of the stolen property, less the £77,000 for the recovered property.

The aggravating factor coupled with the career criminal status justifies a 10 year sentence.
The violence used is the main factor and the five years shows there is something Rotten in Denmark.

I am counting the days until Phillip Capewell is moved to Ford Open Prison, where there is a job vacancy looking after the Cats, as Terry "The Commander" Dickens passed away last year.

Phil, when you see the ghost of Terry "The Commander" Dickens down at Ford, whilst you look after the Cats, don't forget Shakespeare's, Hamlet, act 1, scene 4, "Something is rotten in the state of Denmark,"

Getting shipped out to Ford Open Prison is a luxury and would normally take several months or a year.

But as Phillip Capewell has a long-standing history of "Body-Trading" he will be in Ford Open Prison tending the little pussies within the next four weeks, perhaps sooner if he decides not to appeal.

It is rumoured when Phillip Capewell dies, his grave will be dug to 50 feet, because deep down he is a nice person.

The driver of the funeral hearse will certainly get caught speeding !!

Upon another note, I wonder if there is going to be a hearing to seize any assets held by Phillip Capewell under the 2002 Proceeds of crime act ??

The moral of this tale is:

"When a Brighton Antiques Dealer is down, kick him harder !!"

Stolen Art Watch, Sewer Rat's Revenge Sends Brighton Antiques Mafia Godfather Phillip Capewell to Jail for 5 Years, 30 Months in Reality !!

Antiques Dealer sent to Prison !!

By Nigel Freedman
http://www.theargus.co.uk/

A crook who was caught with antiques from a violent country house robbery has been jailed for five years.

Phillip Capewell, 64, was arrested by armed police waiting for antiques from the raid at Aldsworth House, near Chichester, to be delivered to his home. They were tipped of (by Bernard Lyons) that Wolfgang Schmeltz and Christopher Doughty were on their way from Southampton to Capewell's flat at Warnham Court in Grand avenue, Hove.

All three men were forced to the ground at gunpoint as police seized part of the £382,000 Aldsworth House haul.

It included silver, medals, swords and guns awarded to five generations of retired Major Tom Williams' family since 1790.

Mr Williams, 73, and his wife Sarah, 68, were tied up after three men burst into their home on June 4th, 2006.

Mr Williams tried to fight back but was coshed with a truncheon and kicked and punched by two of the raiders.

The terrified couple were bound with gaffer tape and blindfolded as the robbers spent six hours ransacking their home.

During the ordeal one of the robbers threatened to pull Mr Williams' fingernails out with pliers if he did not tell them where to find the keys to the safe.

Mrs Williams described how the raiders burst into their home as they watched television.

She said: "I screamed rather pointlessly but it was terrifying."

Mrs Williams said one robber held her back while the others went to the drawing room where Mr Williams was half-asleep.

She said: "By the time I got there they were attacking my husband.

"One had a truncheon which he hit Tom with. The other was kicking him in the ribs."

The robbers eventually found the main safe and demanded the keys for it but the couple tried to stall them.

Schmeltz and Doughty made two trips from Southampton to Hove over the next four days to sell part of the haul to Capewell.

They face a retrial after a jury failed to reach verdicts on charges they staged the robbery at Aldsworth House.

Both men denied robbery but admitted one charge of handling stolen antiques from Aldsworth House.

Schmeltz claimed a man he refused to name had brought them to his home in Southampton.

Doughty claimed he was with Schmeltz because the German-born lorry driver owed him 32,000 for jewellery he had sold him.

After they were arrested police found an Aladdin's cave of stolen antiques in Capewell's garage at Warnham Court as well as a lock-up he rented in Suffolk.

The goods were taken in a series of raids across Sussex, Surrey, Kent and Essex, the jury at Hove Crown Court was told during a ten week trial.

Capewell was found guilty of handing antiques stolen from four of the raids but was cleared of handling charges on three more burglaries.

Capewell has previous convictions for handling and for stealing antiques from a walk-in theft at the home of an elderly victim for which he was jailed for two years in 1987.

Judge Guy Anthony told Capewell: "You are a thoroughly dishonest person who is prepared to act as an outlet for stolen antiques of high value."

"You are the sort of person who gives many antiques dealers a bad name."

"You are a professional handler of stolen goods willing to make yourself available to other criminals handling the proceeds of burglaries."

Judge Anthony said he was prepared to accept Capewell did not know antiques from Aldsworth House were the result of a violent robbery.

Richard Cherrill, defending, said Capewell had to accept the jury's verdict but still protested his innocence.

Mr and Mrs Williams were in court to see Capewell sentenced.

Mr Williams said "As there is a retrial to be held it would not be appropriate to comment at the moment."

Detective Sergeant Paul Sellings of Sussex Police Major crime branch, welcomed the sentence.

He said: "Phillip Capewell is a sophisticated, professional handler of stolen property.

"Within hours of recieving stolen property from Aldsworth House he had dispersed it throughout the South of England.

"Without such people thieves would be unable to realise the profits of their crimes.

"The sentence handed down today sends a clear message that men like Capewell will be treated seriously by the courts."

Brighton and Hove Antiques Mafia having a drink

Art Hostage comments:

Brace yourself for what Art Hostage has discovered, collating now.

First of all, Police did not get tipped off Schmeltz and Doughty were on their way from Southampton to deliver the stolen Aldsworth House antiques to Phillip Capewell, Police were tipped off Capewell was going to receive the stolen Aldsworth House antiques from Schmeltz and Doughty.

This is important because it shows the Police informant came from Brighton, connected to Capewell, rather than from Southampton, connected to Schmeltz and Doughty.

The Sussex Police informant on this case was a man called Bernard Lyons, who, similar to Capewell, has a long history of handling high value stolen antiques, but has had a longstanding feud with Capewell and his gang, Mechin, Rami, Wife beater coward David Gore etc.

This feud stems from the time back in the early 1990’s when there was a country house burglary in Norfolk, and two Dutch Seascape paintings, valued at £90,000 were stolen.

The paintings made their way to Brighton, where they were sold, knowingly to a stolen antiques handler called Rammi.

Now Bernard Lyons got to hear of this and informed Sussex Police Arts and antiques squad, ***** *********, his Police handler.

Rammi was duly arrested in a similar vein to Capewell and was charged with handling the two stolen Dutch seascapes from Norfolk.

Bernard Lyons tried, in vein to claim the reward offered, £9,000, but was thwarted because, as it turned out the Dutch Seascape paintings were only copies and therefore not worth anything like £90,000, Bernard Lyons was given £6,000 from Sussex Police Informant fund.

In revenge, Rammi enlisted the help of the Phillip Capewell gang to inform on Bernard Lyons and get him arrested when he was in possession of high value stolen antiques.

Can you see a pattern developing here ?

Some time later there was a Burglary at Hassocks, near Brighton, where a Minton Majolica garden statue of a Peacock by the famous Minton modeller Paul Comolera was stolen, ironically, the lady owner did have a pair of the valuable Peacocks and they were displayed in her garden, until one was stolen.

This one was kept in the bathroom of her house for safekeeping, although this two was stolen on the orders of Bernard Lyons.

http://www.powerhousemuseum.com/collection/database/?irn=206174

These Minton Peacocks are highly collectible and would be worth up to £500,000 each, a cool £1 million for a pair if sold to an American collector.

Rammi found out Bernard Lyons had taken possession of the Minton Peacock and informed Phillip Capewell, who in turn contacted the Sussex Police Art and Antiques Squad.

Capewell had a long-standing relationship as a Sussex Police informer, he then gave his Police handler details of when and where Bernard Lyons would be in possession of the stolen Minton Peacock.

Now an internal Sussex Police battle developed between ***** ********* and ***** *********** about arresting Bernard Lyons, as he was a Police Informant of ***** *********'s.

However, ***** won the day and Bernard Lyons was duly arrested with the Minton Peacock in his car.

The follow up at the home of Bernard Lyons was much more intriguing, Phillip Capewell had learnt that Bernard Lyons had built a false wall in his home, behind which was stored the stolen ceramics taken from the Worthing home of the worlds leading English ceramic authority Geoffrey Godden.

http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/antiquesuk/aboutseries/appraisers/godden.html

Phillip Capewell had learnt this from the actual burglar, Andrew Ball, who used to sell his stolen antiques to Bernard Lyons, but was poached by Phillip Capewell with the promise of better prices.

Bernard Lyons was tried and convicted in a similar vein to Capewell and received 2 years jail time for a variety of stolen antiques handling charges.

Harbouring his desire for revenge, Bernard Lyons waited for his time until 2006, when he learnt about Capewell being ready to receive the stolen Aldsworth House antiques.

This was the moment when Bernard Lyons struck back, and the rest, as they say, is history, 5 years jail time for Phillip Capewell.

The sheer ruthlessness of the Brighton Antiques Mafia knows no bounds, why back in the early to mid 1980’s Bernard Lyons informed on his childhood friend David Henty, who was engaged in counterfeit passports.

When Police arrested David Henty they discovered 250 forged passports ready for sale at £1,000 each, £250,000 total, quite big money back then.

However, even if David Henty had not been informed upon he would not have succeeded because he misspelled the word Britannic, spelling it Britanic.

As in "Her Britannic Majesty's" written on the inside cover of a British passport. Check it out you will see, if you have a British passport, it is still there on the European British Passport.

Simple mistake you may think, well truth is David Henty is not the sharpest tool in the box, not one of God’s brightest children, so it is not surprising he made a spelling mistake.

Even to this day David Henty still thinks Itchy Fanny is a Japanese motorbike !!

When asked what happened to Jesus when he went to Mount Olive ?

David Henty replied "Popeye punched Jesus in the mouth"

Upon a much more sinister and disgusting note, Phillip Capewell has a particular liking for under-age pre-pubescent girls and when Phillip Capewell gets drunk he starts shouting out loud:

“I like e’m young and tender, then I shove it up their ass”

which he has done many times over the years.

A particularly nasty tale is that of Phillip Capewells step-daughter, a girl called Sierra, who whilst living with Phillip Capewell and her mother in the 1980’s, was sexually abused and sodomized

over a long period of time by Phillip Capewell.

Perhaps Sussex Police should investigate this matter, it is well known amongst the Brighton Antiques Mafia, Capewell even boasted about it when drunk in the Seafield pub, as well as many other times when Capewell got drunk.

So, you see, behind the facade, Brighton and Hove has a dark shadow hanging over it, emanating from the Art and Antiques trade.

To those who say:

“If the world needed an enema, they'd stick it in Brighton and Hove”

it seems you are correct.

Art Hostage would like to thank the ex-law enforcement Police officers, current Antiques dealers and ex-Brighton Knocker Boys, now wealthy property developers, for their assistance in this story.

Keep it coming guys my readers love it

Stolen Art Watch, Re-Trial Keeps Aldsworth House Accused off the Streets till 2009, at the Very Least !!

Antiques raid suspects to face retrial

By Nigel Freedman
http://www.theargus.co.uk/news/generalnews/display.var.2224145.0.antiques_raid_suspects_to_face_retrial.php

Two men face a retrial over allegations they staged a violent country house antiques robbery.

Retired major Tom Williams, 73, and his wife Sarah, 68, were tied up during the raid at Aldsworth House, Chichester, in June 2006.

The robbers coshed Mr Williams and threatened to pull his fingernails out with pliers unless he gave them the keys to the safe.

The three balaclava-masked robbers escaped with antiques and jewellery worth £382,000.

Wolfgang Schmelz, 57, and Christopher Doughty, 48, both from Southampton, were arrested in Hove four days after the raid.

They admitted one charge of handling stolen property from Aldsworth but denied robbery.

The jury was discharged today when it was unable to reach a verdict on the robbery charges after eight days.

Walton Hornsby, prosecuting, said the Crown Prosecution Service would seek a retrial.

Doughty and Schmelz were remanded in custody until the trial takes place on January 5 next year.

7:28pm today

Stolen Art Watch, Convicted Brighton Antiques Mafia Godfather in the Morning, Sewer Rat in the Afternoon !!

http://www.courtnews1.co.uk/courtlists/current/indexdailies.htm

The Crown Court

at Lewes

Daily List for Friday 25 April 2008 at HOVE TRIAL CENTRE, LANSDOWNE ROAD, HOVE

http://www.courtnews1.co.uk/courtlists/current/lewes_T080425.02.htm
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Court 4 - sitting at 10:00 AM


HIS HONOUR JUDGE ANTHONY

NOT BEFORE 02:00 PM

For Sentence
T20060797 CAPEWELL Phillip M

Art Hostage comments:

Sussex Police F.I.B. pin-up, Detective Sgt Phil Carter could do worse than get to speak to Phil Capewell before his sentencing Friday 25th April 2008.

Using his charm, Police Poster Boy Sgt Phil Carter can offer a letter to the judge if Capewell wants to return to informing for the Sussex Police.

Oh didn't you know, Phil Capewell has done his fair share of body-trading over the years.

A possible adjournment could be in the offing if Capewell starts singing like a Canary, again !!

Stolen antiques are being moved from their hiding places all over Sussex as a result of the Capewell conviction.

If Sussex Police watch the usual suspects, they will definitely recover much more stolen antiques than just watching on a Friday !!

Many High profile Brighton Antiques Mafia Godfathers are wondering if they are next to be arrested as a result of Sewer Rat's Old and New !!

Pro-active Policing from Sussex Police, Glamour Boy Detective Phil Carter, in particular, would result in the recovery of many outstanding stolen high value antiques.

Too much to ask, you decide !!

Stolen Art Watch,Breaking news.. Aldsworth House Robbery, Jury Deadlocked

Art Hostage has learnt that the two remaining accused Wolfy Schmeltz and Christopher Doughty have not, I repeat, have not been convicted of the actual Aldsworth House robbery.

The jury was split 6/5 and 5/6 so the Judge dismissed the jury.

Now, will the prosecution go for a re-trial ??

Will the Judge sentence Wolfy and Doughty as if they were convicted, i.e. 10 years for just the handling of some Aldsworth House stolen antiques ??

However, Phil Capewell has been convicted of four other handling charges as well as the Aldsworth House handling.

As Phil Capewell is a repeat offender, he has antiques related convictions going back 30 years, one of which was a sentence of 6 years jail for another tie up robbery involving jewellery, Capewell could get 10 years + and may find it difficult to launch an appeal.

On the other hand, if Wolfy and Doughty get 10 years an appeal would certainly be successful and reduced, in my opinion to around 2-4 years, even less if we look at similar convictions.

No need to turn Sewer Rat for Wolfy or Doughty, Capewell on the other hand will have to think very hard !!

More to follow.......

Stolen Art Watch, History Provides Clue to Court Appearence !!

Art dealers jailed for Lowry theft

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/147317.stm

From August 7th 1998

Two art dealers who stole valuable L S Lowry oil paintings from their 94-year-old owner have each been jailed for four years.

Michael Openshaw and Robert Barrett ignored the protests of the pictures' owner Dr Percy Thompson-Hancock as they took the two canvasses - 'Children on a Promenade' and 'Family of Three' - from his living room wall, leaving a £10,400 cash 'payment' behind.

They sent Dr Thompson-Hancock £6,000 in the post a few days later but it still came nowhere near the true values of paintings, the jury at Southwark Crown Court were told.

The distraught doctor and his family desperately tried to retrieve the paintings, unaware that they had been auctioned off by Bonhams for £78,000.

Eight months after the theft, the two appeared - with a price tag of £215,000 - at a Bond Street art gallery where they were spotted by Dr Thompson-Hancock's granddaughter.

'Despicable' act

Neither of the two men showed any reaction as the jury convicted them of two counts of theft. They rejected their claims that they had been victimised by the former doctor's "greedy" relatives after they had realised how much the oils were worth.

Passing sentence, Judge David Elfer QC told them: "What you men did was despicable. It was in fact a determined crusade by you to get from the doctor the best pieces that he had."

He said they had pestered their elderly victim repeatedly to part with the paintings, until finally they decided to take no more notice of his refusal to sell.

The court later heard that Mr Openshaw had only one previous conviction against him, but that Mr Barrett had a list of court appearances dating back 28 years.

They included stealing £9,000-worth of antique furniture from the home of a 90-year-old deaf and bed-ridden man.

Police believe the pair had spent years preying on elderly people across southern England.

Case officer Detective Constable Tim Snuggs said: "This case highlights the danger waiting for the old and frail, who should receive respect but don't, who cannot defend their homes and valuables and who don't know whom to trust."

He said it was difficult to gauge the extent of this sort of crime as victims were often too old and scared to come to court.

The five-day trial heard that Dr Hancock and his wife had built up a small collection of antiques and works of art including the two Lowrys over a number of years.

About five years ago, Robert Barrett and Michael Openshaw called round expressing an interest in some of the items.

They seemed "nice and sociable and appeared genuine" the doctor recalled, and he sold them a number of his pieces.

However, he always made it clear that the paintings, which he intended to leave to his two daughters, were not for sale.

It now seems likely that the two oils will eventually be returned to Dr Thompson-Hancock and his wife.

Fast forward to the Court listings for April 23rd 2008, see below:


http://www.courtnews1.co.uk/courtlists/current/lewes_T080423.02.htm

The Crown Court

at Lewes

Daily List for Wednesday 23 April 2008 at LAW COURTS, EDWARD STREET, BRIGHTON.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Court 3 - sitting at 10:00 AM


HIS HONOUR JUDGE HAYWARD


NOT BEFORE 02:00 PM

For Mention
T20087048 BLOK Anthony H

Re:trial date
T20080064 UNDERWOOD Michael D



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Published: 22 April 2008 at 16:17 MLK/246883
Page No: 10 of 11

Art Hostage comments:

The link between the two cases.

A certain Anthony Hershal Blok was the solicitor, from Sears Blok and co, representing Barrett and Openshaw in the 1998 Lowry case.

Barratt and Openshaw complained about the £30,000 fee charged to them by Sears Blok for which they still got 4 years jail.

Michael David Underwood is a notorious Brighton Antiques Knocker Boy, nicknamed "The Ambassador" who was jailed, along with another Brighton Knocker called Lee O'Donnall for duping an elderly woman out of a porcelain plaque and was jailed for around 2 years.

The appearance together at the Court April 23rd 2008 as defendants leaves me wondering if the Brighton Antiques Mafia Lawyer has been caught up some kind of Art related criminal activity ??

Perhaps someone out there could clarify why these two, Anthony Hershal Blok and Michael "The Ambassador" Underwood are appearing together ??

Heart attack on the way ????

Sounds like a job for Owen Thomas QC

Hope it is not the same Owen Thomas who passed away last April, as Michael "The Ambassador" Underwood got 10 "Not Guilties" on the spin, when represented by Owen Thomas, Ironically, the one time Owen Thomas was not representing Michael "The Ambassador" Underwood he was found guilty, on the plaque charge and recieved 2 years jail.

Heard the other day Michael (Mickey) Underwood bought a Plane...... and for the other leg he bought a Razor !!!

Stolen Art Watch, Aldsworth House Violent Robbery Mastermind, Phil Capewell, Guilty, Guilty, Guilty !!

Jury finds Antiques Plot Dealer Guilty

http://www.theargus.co.uk/

An Antiques dealer has been found guilty of conspiracy to handle stolen family heirlooms.

Phillip Capewell, 64, was one of three men caught with antiques stolen during a 3382,000 country house robbery.

Capewell was arrested after Christopher Doughty, 48, and Wolfgang Schmeltz, 57, arrived at his flat in Grand Avenue, Hove, on June 8, 2006.

They were carrying antiques, silver, swords and medals stolen four days earlier in a robbery at Aldsworth House, near Chichester.

Doughty and Schmeltz had driven from their homes in Southampton after Capewell agreed to buy some of the haul from them.

A jury at Hove Crown court yesterday found Capewell guilty by a majority of ten to one of conspiracy to handle the antiques knowing or believing them to be stolen.

Schmeltz and Doughty pleaded guilty to handling the antiques but deny being part of the masked gang that staged the Aldsworth House robbery.

Capewell has also been found guilty of handling antiques from four more country house raids across Sussex and the South East.

He has been cleared of handling charges after stolen antiques from three more burglaries were found at his lock up garages in Hove and Suffolk.

Capewell told the jury during the ten week trial that he bought them legitimately from other antiques dealers.

Capewell and fellow antiques dealer Daniel Brummer, 56, of Furze Hill, Hove, were cleared of conspiring to handle stolen property.

Motorway worker William Johnson, 47, from Southampton, was found not guilty of the robbery at Aldsworth House.

The trial continues...

Violent country house robbery: antiques dealer guilty of handling conspiracy
http://www.chichester.co.uk/chichester/Violent-country-house-robbery-antiques.4008588.jp

AN ANTIQUES dealer from Hove was found guilty of conspiring to handle stolen goods taken from an elderly couple during a violent robbery.

Philip Capewell (64) of Hove was convicted of conspiring with Wolfgang Schmelz and Christopher Doughty at Hove Crown Court on Monday (April 21).

Doughty and Schmelz, both of Southampton, pleaded guilty to the offence but both still stand accused of robbery.

William Johnson, also of Southampton, was charged with robbery alongside Schmelz and Doughty but was found not guilty by the jury last Friday (April 18).

During the trial, Capewell was cleared of conspiring with Daniel Brummer in handling a quantity of stolen goods including antiques taken from the robbery atAldsworth, near Emsworth. Brummer was acquitted of the offence.

Antiques were stolen from Thomas and Sarah Williams' house during the robbery between June 3 and June 9, 2006.

Mr and Mrs Williams were told they would have their fingernails taken off with pliers if they did not co-operate with the robbers.

On entering the house, the men hit Mr Williams over the head with a truncheon and then bound the couple by their ankles and wrists.

A gang took possessions worth £380,000 including medals, swords, guns silver and porcelain.

As well as taking the antiques, the men made off in the couple's dark blue Vauxhall Vectra.

Capewell was found guilty of four counts of handling stolen goods from other robberies and found not guilty for the same offence on four counts.

The jury is still deliberating on the verdicts for Doughty and Schmelz for robbery. The trial continues.