Violent country house robbery: antiques dealer guilty of handling conspiracy
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 at Aldsworth, 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.
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