Gardener threatened with axe during Da Vinci painting raid

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 heard.

John Chrystie, 50, was weeding in the gardens at Drumlanrig Castle, Dumfriesshire, 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.