Two men plundered the wreck of a British warship that sunk in the Straits of Dover more than 100 years ago, it has been alleged.

HMS Hermes went down in 1914, hit by a German U-Boat at the beginning of the First World War.

Now Prosecutor Ian Hope has told a jury how boat owner John Blight and diver Nigel Ingram were involved in the "commercial exploitation" of ships.

"We say they did it deliberately and dishonestly...to make money by selling it," he claimed.

Ingram, 57, from London Road, Teynham, and Blight, 56, from Winchelsea, have each denied four fraud charges.

Ingram has also denied a fifth charge of possessing £16,000 in criminal property.

Mr Hope told Canterbury Crown Court that people finding items from sunken ships had a lawful duty to report them to the Receiver of Wrecks.

He alleged the French Authorities had caught the two men in Blight’s boat De Bounty in the vicinity of the wreck of HMS Hermes.

He told the jury the Maritime and Coastguard Agency spoke with Ingram, who was given a warning about not declaring salvage to the Receiver of Wrecks.

Ingram later completed an official form in regard to three port holes from fishing vessels and china.

"We say they did it deliberately and dishonestly...to make money by selling it" - Prosecutor Ian Hope

But in 2015 the French Authorities had boarded Blight’s ship, which had stopped near the wreck of HMS Hermes.

But they were allowed to continue their work.

Mr Hope claimed that among the items raised from wrecks were, a ships bell, torpedo thatch, and metal ingots.

The prosecutor said a "recovery book" was later discovered outlining details of items taken and money received.

Mr Hope said that from May 2012 and December 2015 Ingram had made 35 visits to a Sittingbourne-based scrap metal dealer.

“What we say is he was taking things from the bottom of the sea and committing fraud, " he alleged.

He claimed officers also examined Ingram’s computer which revealed photos of him posing with large items of wreck.

And in his safe officers found £16,000 ion cash which the prosecution claim was some of the money received from selling the metal.

In October 2015 both men were arrested when Ingram allegedly told officers: “It has nothing to do with me...it’s my boss, John”.

Both men denied taking items from HMS Hermes in interviews with officials.

The trial, which is expected to take two weeks, continues.