A while back we mentioned a case in which some guys claimed to have found a Roman ring which later turned out to have been purchased from eBay ... here's an update on the case from the Oldham Advertiser:

TWO men charged with perjury after claiming to have found an historic Roman ring in an Oldham field – which later turned out to have been bought on eBay the week before – have been cleared.

Gary Moore and Colin Hilton, both 34, handed in the ring last November and a treasure trove inquest was held in August to determine whether they could keep it or whether it should go to a museum because of its historical importance.

But the hearing was stopped when the eBay evidence came to light, and the case then handed over to the police.

Gary and Colin were charged with perjury – for allegedly claiming they had found the ring in a bid to get more than they had paid for it off eBay – but have now been told that all charges have been dropped.

They have always maintained that the ring was planted in the field by a friend as a prank and that they had no knowledge of its background.

Gary said: "A third party has already admitted to me that he put it there, knowing we would be metal detecting there. I haven’t seen him since – he has made himself scarce.

"Me and Colin knew nothing about this. We have followed the law and I am an innocent man.

"I don’t know what will be happening with the ring now. I just want everyone to know we have been cleared. My name has been dragged through the mud."

The ring was inspected by the British Museum, which dated it to the first or second century, and found it to be 85 per cent gold and 12 per cent silver.

It was sold on eBay for £42.23, but could be worth hundreds of pounds.

Gary said: "I worry it might put people off declaring what they have found, but it won’t stop me metal detecting."