Dealer admits illegal sale – Chronicle Live

Antiques dealer Thomas Balmain has admitted illegally selling whale teeth and possessing elephant ivory.
Balmain, 50, pleaded guilty to three charges and denied seven others when he appeared before magistrates at Bedlington Law Courts.
All 10 charges were brought under the control of trade in endangered species enforcement regulations after a raid on an Ashington warehouse used by Balmain, of Millbank, Bedlington.
The raid followed an investigation into claims that Balmain had advertised sperm whale teeth for sale on the internet auction site eBay.
In court yesterday Balmain admitted two charges of selling a whale tooth and one of possessing a carved elephant ivory set.
The other offences of illegally possessing a range of items carved from ivory and sperm whale teeth, including a salt and pepper set and carved animals, were all denied.
Cuthbert Regan, prosecuting, told magistrates that the charges followed a raid on a warehouse in the Wansbeck Business Park on October 10.
He added that when Balmain was interviewed by police he described himself as an antiques dealer and that he had bought the items over a period of time at auctions and confirmed he had sold two whale teeth on eBay.
Tim Barker, Balmain's solicitor, told magistrates that the total value of the items involved was "minimal".
Magistrates adjourned the hearing until February 15 for a pre-trial review.
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