A BURGLAR cut a hole in a museum floor to steal “priceless” silver in an audacious heist before melting it down.

Graham Gallon carried out the brazen heist at the Royal Lancers & Nottinghamshire Yeomanry Museum.

He sawed a large hole in the floor to directly gain access to a display case containing the artefacts.

The 36-year-old then swiped priceless artefacts – including a distinctive parcel and gilt rosewater dish that is said to be the sister piece to the Wimbledon women’s singles trophy.

His theft was discovered the following morning by a volunteer, who found a decorative Halloween skeleton left directly under the hole.

Gallon has now been jailed for two-and-a-half years after he pleaded guilty to burglary.

Nottingham Police said the items have not been recovered and officers believe they may have been melted down.

Convicted burglar Gallon denied he had ever visited the museum when he was arrested.

But he was snared by DNA found on the base of a silver cup that he was unable to squeeze through the gap in the floor.

A 24-year-old woman and a 47-year-old man arrested in connection with the theft remain under investigation.

Detective Constable India Woodrow, of Nottinghamshire Police, said: “The people who did this may have got away with silver, but – as we said at the time – they have not got away with the crime.

“Gallon came to our attention very soon in our investigation and I am pleased that we were able to conclusively link him to this offence.

“We do not believe that he acted alone, and our investigation is continuing at pace.

“We are acutely aware, however, that no amount of convictions or jail sentences can bring back these priceless items, which we know meant a huge amount to veterans and museum staff.”