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| Stolen 'holy grail' handed in to police | Stolen 'holy grail' handed in to police |
| (21 days later) | |
| A very modern quest – involving television appeals, a cash reward and a shadowy meeting between police detectives and a go-between in a layby – has led to the recovery of the “Welsh holy grail”. | A very modern quest – involving television appeals, a cash reward and a shadowy meeting between police detectives and a go-between in a layby – has led to the recovery of the “Welsh holy grail”. |
| The Nanteos Cup, a wooden drinking bowl believed by some to have magical, healing properties, was stolen during the burglary of an elderly woman’s home in Herefordshire a year ago. | The Nanteos Cup, a wooden drinking bowl believed by some to have magical, healing properties, was stolen during the burglary of an elderly woman’s home in Herefordshire a year ago. |
| Since then, detectives have been investigating its disappearance along with a string of thefts of precious artefacts stolen from churches across the west of England, and Wales. They have appealed for information about it on BBC’s Crimewatch and a £2,000 reward has been offered. | Since then, detectives have been investigating its disappearance along with a string of thefts of precious artefacts stolen from churches across the west of England, and Wales. They have appealed for information about it on BBC’s Crimewatch and a £2,000 reward has been offered. |
| Police have been close to getting to the cup before now. They heard at one point that it was being passed around the bar of a west country pub, but by the time they arrived it had been spirited away. | Police have been close to getting to the cup before now. They heard at one point that it was being passed around the bar of a west country pub, but by the time they arrived it had been spirited away. |
| But now, West Mercia detectives revealed on Friday that the cup has been recovered. Officially police have said only that it handed to officers on “neutral ground” during a pre-arranged meeting last week. A police spokesman said: “An anonymous source came forward which resulted in it being physically handed in. We take the theft of any item very seriously.” | But now, West Mercia detectives revealed on Friday that the cup has been recovered. Officially police have said only that it handed to officers on “neutral ground” during a pre-arranged meeting last week. A police spokesman said: “An anonymous source came forward which resulted in it being physically handed in. We take the theft of any item very seriously.” |
| Det Insp Martyn Barnes, the investigating officer, said: “I would like to thank everyone who helped us with our inquiries. Following the recovery of the cup, no arrests have been made and inquiries into the theft continue. However, we are very pleased it has now been returned to its rightful owners.” | Det Insp Martyn Barnes, the investigating officer, said: “I would like to thank everyone who helped us with our inquiries. Following the recovery of the cup, no arrests have been made and inquiries into the theft continue. However, we are very pleased it has now been returned to its rightful owners.” |
| It is understood that earlier this month police received an anonymous call from someone who said he had not stolen the cup but could get it and return it. The man told police to meet him in a layby in south Wales and appeared out of the shadows to hand it over. “It was all a bit James Bond,” said a police source. | It is understood that earlier this month police received an anonymous call from someone who said he had not stolen the cup but could get it and return it. The man told police to meet him in a layby in south Wales and appeared out of the shadows to hand it over. “It was all a bit James Bond,” said a police source. |
| According to one legend, the cup was brought to Britain by Joseph of Arimathea after the death of Christ. After a sojourn at Glastonbury it was taken by a group of Somerset monks to Wales and given a home at Nanteos Mansion, near Aberystwyth. | According to one legend, the cup was brought to Britain by Joseph of Arimathea after the death of Christ. After a sojourn at Glastonbury it was taken by a group of Somerset monks to Wales and given a home at Nanteos Mansion, near Aberystwyth. |
| The police declined to be drawn into discussions of what the Nanteos Cup actually is. They describe it as a “treasured object” rather than the grail – but do believe it is from medieval rather than biblical times. | The police declined to be drawn into discussions of what the Nanteos Cup actually is. They describe it as a “treasured object” rather than the grail – but do believe it is from medieval rather than biblical times. |
| What is certain is that it was lent to an elderly, ailing woman in the village of Weston-under-Penyard on the Herefordshire/Gloucestershire border in 2014 because of its supposed healing powers. A local newspaper carried a report on it, soon after which it was stolen. | |
| The family which owns the relic had offered £1,000 reward for its safe return with an additional £1,000 put up by police for its recovery and the successful conviction of the thieves. No money was handed over in the layby. | The family which owns the relic had offered £1,000 reward for its safe return with an additional £1,000 put up by police for its recovery and the successful conviction of the thieves. No money was handed over in the layby. |
| The recovery of the cup is the latest triumph for a small team of West Mercia detectives working on an operation codenamed Icarus. Detectives have executed warrants on addresses in London, Kent and Wales and found objects including statues, stained glass, stonework, friezes, brasses and bibles, seemingly systematically stripped from churches over the last decade. | The recovery of the cup is the latest triumph for a small team of West Mercia detectives working on an operation codenamed Icarus. Detectives have executed warrants on addresses in London, Kent and Wales and found objects including statues, stained glass, stonework, friezes, brasses and bibles, seemingly systematically stripped from churches over the last decade. |
| Among the artefacts discovered so far are oak panels that were part of the Torbryan screen, stolen from a Devon church in 2013 and considered of national importance because they were one of the few such objects to have escaped the destruction of the Reformation. | Among the artefacts discovered so far are oak panels that were part of the Torbryan screen, stolen from a Devon church in 2013 and considered of national importance because they were one of the few such objects to have escaped the destruction of the Reformation. |