The case against a couple accused of a £250,000 art heist from Billy Connolly’s former Aberdeenshire estate has been dropped.
Paul Thomas-Smith, 67, and his wife Penelope Thomas-Smith, 61, were accused of stealing the two oil paintings from a property at Candacraig in Strathdon.
It took police 15 years for police to charge the pair who were detained last summer in Bulgaria.
The couple, of High Street, Banff, had been due to go on trial later this year, but when the case called at Aberdeen Sheriff Court yesterday, proceedings were dropped.
Fiscal depute Alan Townsend accepted the couple’s not guilty pleas.
The paintings – by Scottish colourists George Leslie Hunter and Francis Cadell – went missing from a house in Candacraig Gardens in the summer of 2001.
Owners Harry and Liz Young had not insured the works, believing they only had sentimental value.
Mr Young had inherited the paintings from his father, who bought them at an auction in Canada in the 1970s. Mr Young has since died.
But in July 2001, the paintings – both floral – vanished from their home.
Police launched an investigation at the time but had no idea how the house was entered into as no damage was done.
The paintings were later tracked to Delhi when Hunter’s work was found in a Sotheby’s sale catalogue. This led to recovery of the second painting.
Comedy legend Mr Connolly and wife Pamela Stephenson bought the nearby Candacraig House from Body Shop founder Anita Roddick in 1998.
They eventually sold the 12-bedroom pile in three years ago.
During that time they owned it they became familiar faces at the famous Lonach Gathering, which takes place in nearby Bellabeg each August.
As well as providing a dram for the Men of Lonach during their traditional march through the glen into the park ground, Connolly entertained a host of celebrity friends during the festivities, including the late Robin Williams, Ewan McGregor and Dame Judi Dench.