Man ‘damaged £24m Gainsborough painting after fleeing from psychiatric hospital’

A homeless man damaged a £24 million painting by one of Britain’s most celebrated artists after absconding from a psychiatric hospital, a court has heard.

A homeless man damaged a £24 million painting by one of Britain’s most celebrated artists after absconding from a psychiatric hospital, a court has heard.

Keith Gregory, 63, left two deep slash marks in an X shape on The Morning Walk by Thomas Gainsborough when he attacked it with a drill bit in front of horrified art lovers browsing a collection of old masters on the afternoon of March 18 this year.