Suspected art slasher in court

A man accused of defacing a 232-year-old Thomas Gainsborough masterpiece with a screwdriver at the National Gallery was remanded in custody today (Mon). Keith Gregory, 63, allegedly made two long scratches to the paintwork of Gainsborough’s portrait of William Hallet and Elizabeth Stephens, The Morning Walk, on Saturday afternoon. One wing of the National Gallery was evacuated for two hours after Gregory allegedly vandalised the painting at around 2:15pm. He was arrested after he was restrained by staff and bystanders….