Gardener 'threatened with axe'

Mar 2 2010

A gardener was threatened with an axe as he tried to go after thieves who made off with a Leonardo da Vinci masterpiece from a castle, a court has heard.

John Chrystie, 50, was weeding in the gardens at Drumlanrig Castle, Dumfries-shire, when he became aware of banging, shouting and alarm bells going off.

He said one of the three-strong group brandished an axe when he went to "have a go" at one of them as they ran from the building with the artwork in August 2003.