A MAN from Oxfordshire has admitted stealing three medieval vases from an archaeological dig five years ago.

James Vessey, 35, worked for the Museum of London Archaeology when he stole the three Bellarmine vessels, which date from around 1650.

The archaeological service was carrying out an excavation in Bath during the redevelopment of the city’s SouthGate shopping centre.

Avon and Somerset Constabulary police officers Peter Hunt and Gemma Kirby found one of the vases for sale on auction website eBay.

Working with the archaeological service, they tracked down the suspect to his home address, a narrowboat moored at Enslow Mill Wharf near Woodstock.

Vessey admitted the charge of theft by employee at Bath Magistrates’ Court on May 22.

He was given a four-month suspended prison sentence, 270 hours of unpaid community work and told to compensate a man who bought one of the vases on eBay.

Police discovered the eBay auction – which was won with a bid of £190.60 – on July 29 last year.

Two of the vases have been returned to the museum – the third will follow shortly – and all will eventually be returned to Roman Baths museum in Bath.