Man wanted for stealing £3m in Viking treasure mocked cops for using his 'hungover' mugshot

George Whittaker, 43, from Wales, used a different name on social media so he could mock police over the mugshot they used in a wanted appeal of him. He said they could have used a better photo

A man who was jailed for stealing £3million of Viking treasure has mocked police for the mugshot they used of him in a brand new appeal.

George Whittaker, also known as George Powell, complained that he looked "hungover" in the photo posted by Gwent Police in Wales. The force shared the image in a bid to recall Whittaker to prison for breaching his licence conditions.

He was previously jailed after he failed to declare the unearthed coins, jewellery and silver which dated back to 1,000 years. The now-43-year-old was convicted at Worcester Crown Court of theft, conspiracy to conceal criminal property and conspiracy to convert criminal property.

Gwent Police said in a statement: "We’re appealing for information to locate George Whittaker, 43, - also known as George Powell - who has breached his licence conditions. He received a prison sentence for the offence of theft and following a breach of his licence conditions is being recalled to prison. He has links to Newport."

However, Whittaker told police he didn't like the photo used in the appeal and said they should have used a better one. He wrote his complaint under the profile name George Dennis Blackbeard.

Police quickly deleted his comment from the force's social media page but Whittaker went on to hit out at his sentence, saying: "I was convicted in 2019 for finding treasure in a field that I had permission to be on. Assumptions found me guilty and I received 6 and half years in jail.

"Rapists don't get anywhere near that sentence and what I did wasn't a crime because as you know, no one reported it lost or stolen with it being in the ground for 1500 years. I was lucky enough to find it and declare the items but hearsay and the corruption sent me to prison, away from my children, family and friends.

"I'm not running from anything and apparently I'm being recalled back to prison for missing an appointment I don't deserve especially after serving a large sentence for a 'never-heard-of so-called' crime. I've paid for what I had not done and a large sentence at that. Drug dealers, rapists and other individuals who destroy lives never get that long. I have committed no crime since I served my sentence and been released. I stole nothing then I have stolen nothing now."

He was ordered to pay back £601,250 by Worcester Crown Court in 2022 at a Proceeds of Crime Hearing but has never told anyone what he did with the coins. He said: "The location of discovery still remains a mystery. Only I know this information, out of everyone on the planet."