A scrap metal merchant, who admitted handling brass band instruments stolen from Pontardulais Town Band, faces a possible spell counting the bars of time after being found guilty at Swansea Crown Court.

£61

Marcus Egan, who runs Egan Metals, paid £61 for a tuba, gong, cornet and a set of tubular bells that were stolen by three men from the Pontardulais bandroom last December.

He was found guilty after his own CTV equipment saw him helping to unload the £15,000 worth of instruments out of a vehicle at his scrap metal yard.

He was found guilty after his own CTV equipment saw him helping to unload the £15,000 worth of instruments out of a vehicle at his scrap metal yard4BR

Jail

Judge Huw Davies QC told Egan that he could face a jail sentence, whilst the Association of Chief Police Officers were reported to urge scrap metal dealers to question those they dealt with – including those presumably carrying a tuba, cornet, tubular bells and a Chinese gong!