Fugitive moaned about cops utilizing ‘hungover’ mugshot – he gave them new one and received caught

A vain fugitive who complained about police using an ugly mugshot gave out a fresh picture – and was then caught.

George Whittaker, 43, was wanted for breaching his license having been jailed for stealing £3million of Viking treasure. He hit out after police issued a Facebook appeal to find him – saying they should have used a “better picture because I was hungover”.

He challenged police why they used such an unflattering photo of him after a “three day bender”. So he posted a smiling picture with a tan and cool shades picked up by his local newspaper.

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But just weeks later Whittaker – who called himself George Blackbeard and George Powell – was nicked by police. Whittaker unearthed coins jewellery and silver ingots dating back 1,100 years but did not declare the find and refused to hand over the Viking haul.

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.”

Whittaker using the Facebook name of George Dennis Blackbeard to say he didn’t like the photo used in the appeal – saying the mugshot was taken when he was hungover.

He was convicted at Worcester Crown Court of theft, conspiracy to conceal criminal property and conspiracy to convert criminal property.

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 six 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 too prison for missing an appointment I don’t deserve especially after serving an 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 stole 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.”

Gwent Police said Whittaker had now been arrested in Edinburgh and was held in custody.

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