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UK 'treasure' divers due in court UK 'treasure' divers admit theft
(19 minutes later)
Three British divers accused of stealing treasure from a shipwreck in the Atlantic Ocean in 2002 are due to appear in court in Spain. Three British divers have admitted stealing treasure from a shipwreck in the Atlantic Ocean in 2002 at a court in Spain.
Peter Devlin, Steve Russ and Malcolm Cubin - all from Cornwall - are charged with taking gold and diamonds, and with destroying Spain's cultural heritage. Peter Devlin, Steve Russ and Malcolm Cubin - all from Cornwall - admitted illegally removing artefacts from the wreck and planning to damage Spain's cultural heritage.
They have denied the charges, which carry a jail term of up to six years. They each received a suspended jail sentence and were fined £900.
The team was recovering tin ingots from the wreck of a Dutch vessel, but was accused of straying onto another wreck. Prosecutors had initially sought a six-year jail term for the men.
The three British men insist they were working in partnership with the Spanish government. The team were recovering tin ingots from the wreck of a Dutch vessel, but were accused of straying onto another wreck.
Salvage contract
The commercial divers maintain that they never recovered treasure, and that at the time of their arrest, they were on their way to meet the Spanish authorities to discuss their findings.
Mr Devlin, from Falmouth, Mr Cubin, from Truro, and Mr Russ, from Helston, had gone to Spain to work on the wreck of the Friesland, a Dutch vessel which sank in the Atlantic in the late 19th Century.Mr Devlin, from Falmouth, Mr Cubin, from Truro, and Mr Russ, from Helston, had gone to Spain to work on the wreck of the Friesland, a Dutch vessel which sank in the Atlantic in the late 19th Century.
They have said they were working on a salvage contract awarded by the Spanish government.They have said they were working on a salvage contract awarded by the Spanish government.
Prosecutors allege they strayed on to the Don Pedro, a shipwreck which some believe was loaded with gold and diamonds.
After a seven year delay, the men are due to stand trial in the north-western Spanish city of Santiago de Compostela.
The men are each charged with one count of theft. They also each face a further charge of destruction of the patrimonial heritage of Spain.