Two robbers subjected staff at York Art Gallery to a "violent and terrifying" armed raid in which 20 paintings were stolen and several others left damaged or broken in two, a jury at York Crown Court heard today.

Opening the prosecution against Craig Townend and William Spence, Andrew Campbell QC described how four members of staff were tied up by two men in balaclava masks wielding a loaded shotgun and a loaded handgun on January 22, 1999.

The robbers got away with 20 paintings worth about £700,000, some of which were five centuries old, and caused £12,000 damage.

"The staff at York City Art Gallery were subjected to a violent and terrifying armed robbery carried out, the prosecution say, by Craig Townend and one other unknown man," said Mr Campbell QC. But the plan to dispose of the paintings fell through in an hotel on an industrial estate some months later.

"Police were waiting and they arrested both Townend and William Spence in possession, as luck would have it, of the vast majority of the stolen works, and in due course shortly thereafter they recovered the other two," said Mr Campbell QC.

Townend, 29, of Middle Avenue, Rawmarsh, Rotherham, denies robbery and having a firearm with intent. Spence, 49, Townend's stepfather, of the same address, denies handling the paintings.

A third man, Philip Pickard, 33, of Chester Road, Wheatley, Doncaster, denied charges of robbery and having a firearm with intent, and the jury, on the direction of Judge Tom Cracknell, returned a verdict of not guilty before the prosecution opening.

Pickard pleaded guilty to handling the stolen paintings.

Mr Campbell QC described how gallery staff were closing up when they noticed two men upstairs.

Mr Campbell QC said they forced Ronald Fisher towards another part of the gallery where they encountered a second employee, Tony Dunnington. Both men and a third, Derek Blades, were tied up as was Patricia Gelder, who worked in the gallery's gift shop.

One of the men brought out some tape and threatened to gag the staff unless they kept quiet.

Then they loaded their guns, "one man saying 'there now, you know we mean it'," said Mr Campbell QC.

The trial continues.

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