 In 1965, four years after the theft, Bunton contacted a newspaper, and through a left-luggage office at Birmingham New Street railway station, returned the painting voluntarily.Six weeks later, he also surrendered to the police, who initially discounted him as a suspect, considering the unlikeliness of a 61-year-old retiree, weighing , executing the heist.During the subsequent trial the jury convicted Bunton only of the theft of the frame, which had not been returned.