Thieves get a head in church robbery (From Wilts and Gloucestershire Standard)
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Thieves get a head in church robbery
12:07pm Wednesday 9th May 2012 in News By Ian Craig
The stolen head of Robert De Wakering
THE head of a 700-year-old statue has been stolen from a church in Newland, near Coleford.
The monument to Robert De Wakering, the man who established All Saints Church in the thirteenths century, was already damaged, but the head lay alongside the effigy in the Grade One listed building until it was stolen last month.
The theft is believed to have taken place between April 1 and April 16.
Assistant Church Warden Bea Erskine said the community was saddened by the theft.
“The Parochial Church Council are saddened beyond measure that this ancient artefact, which can have no real meaning or worth outside the church, but is priceless to All Saints’ Newland, has been stolen,” she added.
“We would be overjoyed to see it returned to its rightful place.”
Police are appealing for anyone with information to contact them on 101, quoting incident 294 of April 26.
Information can be given anonymously to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111, or via crimestoppers-uk.org
In some cases Crimestoppers offer rewards of up to £1000 where information leads to a conviction.
