ROBERT Graham and John Doyle stood in silence as the white cloth covering the Madonna was pulled back in the pub car park.

As two private investigators who aimed to reunite stolen goods with their owners, this masterpiece was in a different league.

Giving evidence in court, Mr Graham said: “I thought it was fantastic. It was twice as much as my highest hope.

“We thought if we were very lucky and everything went well, we would end up with £50,000 each, which was fantastic wages.”

The men had visited Skelmersdale solicitor Marshall Ronald, 53, for advice and learned there was a reward of £2m on offer.

All three were unaware the jackpot was put forward by an undercover policeman pretending to be an associate of Duke of Buccleuch.

The whole ruse was a complete fabrication which Mr Ronald later admitted he fell for “hook, line and sinker”.

April’s eight-week trial hinged on the jury’s interpretation of the undercover policeman’s actions.

Did he infiltrate a conspiracy, or lead well-intentioned men into a trap?

They ultimately cleared five defendants of conspiring to extort £4.25m.