TWELVE men, including two from south Essex, have appeared in court for plotting to steal rhinoceros horns and antique Chinese porcelain.

The defendants, aged between 25 and 67, were charged with conspiracy to steal last month after a nationwide investigation into high-value museum and auction house thefts.

They will face trial in April next year.

It is alleged the men, from London, Essex, Cambridgeshire, Wolverhampton and Belfast, conspired with others at various locations to steal rhino horns and other artefacts worth £1.5million between September 2011 and August 2012.

A judge at Birmingham Crown Court bailed 11 of the men until a plea hearing on March 20 next year. One of the defendants, Danny O’Brien, 44, of Orchard Drive, Smithy Fen, Cottenham, near Cambridge, was remanded in custody.

He appeared in court alongside Michael Hegarty, 42, and John O’Brian, 25, both also of Orchard Drive, Smithy Fen; AshleyDad, 34, of Crowther Road, Wolverhampton and John O’Brien, 67, of Fifth Avenue, Wolverhampton.

They also appeared with RichardO’Brien, 29, of Dale Farm, Oak Lane, Crays Hill; Paul Pammen, 48, of Alton Gardens, Southend; Richard Sheridan, 45, of Water Lane, Smithy Fen; Donald Wong, 54, of Clapham Common South Side, Lambeth, London; Patrick Clarke, 32, of Melbourne Road, Newham, London; Alan Clarke, 36, also of Melbourne Road, Newham, and Terence McNamara, 46, of Marquis Street, Belfast.

Another defendant, 26-year-old Robert Gilbert-Smith, of no fixed address, was not required to attend the hearing.

A trial in the case, lasting around eight weeks, is expected to start on April 27.