The theft, the website and the sting, but no-one found guilty

By Tim Cornwell
Published on Saturday 31 December 2011 02:34

LEONARDO Da Vinci’s 500-year-old Madonna of the Yarnwinder was stolen in a daring daylight robbery at Drumlanrig Castle in August 2003 by two men, one armed with an axe.

It was a particular favourite of John Scott, the ninth Duke of Buccleuch, and had been in his family for generations.

For four years it disappeared. But in 2007, two Merseyside private investigators Robert Graham, 57, and John Doyle, 61, who had set up a website called Stolen Stuff Reunited, were approached by an intermediary offering to return the painting.

They contacted an English solicitor Marshall Ronald. He in turn approached David Boyce, a partner in Boyds Solicitors of Glasgow, whose colleague Calum Jones, 45, also came on board. But after negotiations began for the painting’s return, undercover police became involved. The covert operation led to its recovery.

All five were accused of trying to extort reward money for the painting. Last year, a Scottish jury returned majority not-proven verdicts against the English lawyer, Ronald, and the two Liverpool men. The two Scottish solicitors, Jones and Boyce, were discharged on not-guilty verdicts.

Sadly, the 9th Duke had died shortly before the painting was recovered. His son, Richard Scott, the current duke, now faces the decision on where to house the work.

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Paulpool

Sunday, January 1, 2012 at 01:55 AM

i am happy they recovered the painting...the thieves should go to jail and the owner has the choice of what he would like to do...its that simple....

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Phil C

Saturday, December 31, 2011 at 08:52 PM

Oops I said 'b*obies'! ............The serious bit of what I was saying was that I worked in the Duke of Buccleuch’s other Sottish pad, Bowhill, where the Madonna hung 25 years ago. There was scant, if any, security for such a hugely valuable piece of art. .......#1 Uncle Albert's suggestion is a good one.

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Phil C

Saturday, December 31, 2011 at 08:43 PM

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Uncle Albert

Saturday, December 31, 2011 at 11:48 AM

Gift it to the nation, Richard.

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