The Yarnwinder

Five men accused of stealing a priceless painting by Leonardo Da Vinci, in the UK's largest ever art theft, have been cleared by a jury at Edinburgh High Court.

John Doyle, Robert Graham, Marshall Ronald, Calum Jones and David Boyce all walked free from court to Fomer pipe fitter John Doyle and ex-pub landlord Robert Graham claimed they were innocently caught-up in the the case of the stolen Da Vinci masterpiece "The Madonna of the Yarnwinder".

The Madonna Of The Yarnwinder was stolen almost seven years ago from the walls of Drumlanrig Castle in Dumfries, Scotland, in August of 2003.

The five men, three from Lancashire and two from Scotland were charged and tried with the theft of the painting, and attempting to extort money from the painting's owner.

It is alleged they planned to demand more than £4 million from the artwork's owner, the Duke of Buccleuch, for its safe return.

Robert Graham, 57, from Aughton, Lancs, and John Doyle, 61, from Ormskirk, and Skelmersdale solicitor Marshall Ronald, 53, were accused of threatening the Duke and his family that the painting would be irreparably damaged if the ransom was not duly paid.