Accused thief took a family trip ‘to film Portland Tiara’

A MAN accused of stealing the Portland Tiara carried out reconnaissance of a stately home during a family day out, a court has heard.

Ashley Cumberpatch, 36, has been accused of stealing the diamond headpiece from the Welbeck estate in Notts in November 2018. The tiara was stolen alongside a diamond-encrusted brooch. The items had a combined value of £3.75 million.

Nottingham Crown Court heard how officers found footage on Mr Cumberpatch’s Gopro camera of the lock of the tiara case. Denying he had any involvement in the burglary, Mr Cumberpatch said he filmed the estate’s gallery to test out his new camera when he visited at an earlier date, and was at home when the crime took place. Defence barrister Isabelle Gillard asked him why he filmed the lock. He replied: “It’s hard to see what you’re filming on a Gopro. I wasn’t filming the tiara.”

During the search of Mr Cumberpatch’s home, police also found a copy of a newspaper featuring a story about the theft of the tiara on the front page.

The tiara and brooch have never been recovered and are thought to have been broken up for their jewels.