A METAL detectorist was arrested after he found an explosive at Stonehenge.
Nikkie Newby, 30, dug up a handful of World War Two artefacts at the historic site, including a live mortar round.
2
Metal detectorist Nikkie Newby was arrested after he found an explosive at Stonehenge 2
Following a tip-off police arrested Nikkie for allegedly damaging the 5,000-year-old stone circle, which is officially protected - pictured the Stonehenge mortar
He then posted snaps of his finds online while heading home — bragging: “Only travelling with a Live Mortar wot (sic) I found in Stonehenge on train. F***, it’s going in my find box.”
Following a tip-off, police arrested him for allegedly damaging the 5,000-year-old stone circle, which is officially protected.
He was also held for illegally using a metal detector at the Wiltshire monument on Salisbury Plain — long used for military training — removing artefacts of archaeological or historical interest and possessing explosives without a permit.
Newby’s home in Bradford was also raided after his arrest earlier this month. He has since been released under investigation.
PC Emily Thomas said Stonehenge “occasionally attracts the wrong sorts of visitors intent on personal gain and disregard the law”.
Charlotte Russell, of Historic England, added: “Metal detectorists of this kind can remove scarce evidence for the dates and occupation of these sites — knowledge that should be preserved for everyone.”
But Newby insisted he was innocent yesterday, telling The Sun: “It’s all been blown out of proportion.
“They make it sound like I bulldozed Stonehenge. I was nowhere near there.”？
Most read in News
YEARS OF ABUSE Dad held knife to abused wife's throat before she killed him, says daughter
PAY RISE ￡1,000 a year boost to wages as Rishi hikes minimum wage to ￡9.50 an hour
Pictured
'WE'LL MISS YOU' Tributes to 'loved' teen boys after pair stabbed to death as 8 arrested
Exclusive
JEALOUS RAGE Mum battered neighbour with bat & called girl 'ugly ginger ****' in lover row
ROAD TO NOWHERE Idiot glues FACE to road as drivers drag eco-mob off in half-term protests
FESTIVE SLUMP Covid cases 'will PLUMMET this winter even without Plan B restrictions'
Summer Solstice - People gather at Stonehenge for longest day of the year in the UK