Picasso’s helpers on trial over £59m of artworks

PABLO Picasso’s former electrician and the workman’s wife went on trial in Paris yesterday, accused of having stolen 271 pieces of the artist’s work.

Pablo Picasso employed Pierre Le Guennec as an electrician. Picture: Getty

The cache includes lithographs, portraits, a watercolour and sketches created between 1900 and 1932.

Pierre and Danielle Le Guennec said they were given the art, worth €80 million (£59m) by ­Picasso’s second wife.

The Picasso estate said their account is “ridiculous” and is suing them for illegal possession of the works.

Picasso’s son Claude has insisted his father would “never” have given such a large quantity of works to anyone. He said: “That doesn’t stand up. These works were part of his life.”