Watchmaker admits trading ivory

A watchmaker from Kent has been given a two-year suspended sentence for illegally trading in ivory.

Michael Elliot, 56, from Singlewell Road, in Gravesend, pleaded guilty to seven charges at Southwark Crown Court.

The court heard police officers who raided his home seized carved hippo ivory figures, raw elephant tusks, sperm whale teeth and £34,000 in cash.

The banned merchandise ended up as scrimshaw - an intricate etching-based art form - or was used for carving.

All were eventually destined for America, with many "made to order".

'Pile of tusks'

Elliot, a watchmaker for 30 years, was charged under control of trade in endangered species laws.

The court heard his lucrative sideline was uncovered by US investigators looking into wildlife smuggling.

Their investigation led to inquiries in China, Latvia and the United States.

Documents recovered implicating Elliot were found at the home of one of his customers in Philadelphia.

Officers from the Metropolitan Police's Arts and Antiques squad who then raided Elliot's home found a haul which included 18 African elephant tusks, "numerous" hippo tusks, and 19 walking stick handles made from whale teeth.

'Low-level trader'

Also found was a sword and scabbard, both carved from elephant ivory, as well as a picture of Elliot "squatting" next to a pile of tusks in a factory in China.

He later pleaded guilty to three counts of "selling specimens of a controlled species" between 31 December 2004, and 24 August 2005, three of keeping them for sale, and one of purchasing them.

But Cameron Brown, defending, insisted he was a "low-level trader" who crossed the line from legal to illegal trading because of his "obsession for collecting ivory".

Passing sentence, Judge Michael Gledhill QC told Elliot while his was a "significant case" which passed the custodial threshold, "exceptional circumstances" existed enabling him to suspend the two-year prison sentence he was imposing.