This vintage leopard skin coat was handed in to Swindon police station – after it was donated to a charity shop.
Wiltshire Police’s rural crime team, which also deals with wildlife crime, said the coat was believed to have been made since 1947 and was genuine fur.
This genuine Leopard skin coat was handed to @wiltshirepolice having been found in a bag donated to a local charity shop. It would have been illegal for the shop to sell under the Control of Trade in Endangered Species Regulations. It will now be used as a teaching aid by the RCT pic.twitter.com/Ww57UuUx4Z
— Wilts Rural Crime (@WiltsRuralCrime) August 11, 2020
It means anyone buying, selling or displaying the coat commercially would need special permission under the Control of Trade in Endangered Species Regulations.
The coat will now be used as a teaching tool, police said.
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