A former SAS officer was in custody in France today accused of threatening the British owners of a Dordogne stately home with murder as he robbed them of cash and jewellery.
Identified only as Derek, 57, the ex-soldier was part of a six-person ‘commando group’ which raided the Chateau La Durantie, near Bordeaux, a year ago.
He was finally caught after leaving a hair at the scene of the crime that was traced to his pet Jack Russell.
A gang of six raiders entered the the Chateau La Durantie, near Bordeaux, (pictured), as owners Ralph and Victoria Heinig were having dinner with friends
The owners of the property are Ralph and Victoria Heinig, who bought it for more than £1.5million pounds a decade ago, and then spent more than half-a-million renovating it.
Mrs Heinig, 44, told police she heard the attackers speaking English when they broke in on November 15th 2016.
‘The family was enjoying dinner with around five friends, when the attackers arrived wearing balaclavas and carrying weapons,’ said an investigating source.
‘The adults were tied up and threatened with murder, while the safe in an underground vault was emptied of thousands of euros. A luxury watch worth around €20,000 was also taken.
‘Children were sleeping upstairs during the raid, which started at around 10.15pm. The raiders knew the names of the owners.’
Detective initially suspected an inside job at the property, which is part of an Anglo-French catering business, providing a venue for parties, and especially wedding receptions.
Derek, who faces trial and prison, was himself living as an ex-pat in the town of Charme, close to Angouleme, in the Charente department of France.
French police initially suspected an inside job but traced the ex-special forces soldier through dog hair left on the scene. The suspect serves in the SAS for three years (File pic)
After finding the Jack Russell hair, detectives honed in on all British owners of the breed of dog within a 100 mile radius of Durantie chateau.
Derek, who served with the SAS for three years following a career in another British Army regiment, was found to be living in a home surrounded by cannabis plants.
During the raid on the property last Tuesday, armed special forces police also found cocaine and other drugs including ecstasy tablets.
Alleged accomplices were also arrested during simultaneous raids in other parts of France. They included an unnamed 28-year-old in Luxe, which is also in Charente.
A 71-year-old man was arrested in nearby Saint-Yrieix-sur-Charente, along with his wife, who is thought to have assisted in money laundering.
Two other unidentified suspects are also being held in connection with the Durantaye robbery, making a total of six.
The Chateau la Durantie was built in 1840, and was originally the home of the Duke of Isly. It now sleeps up to 44 guests, and rents for up to £17,000-a-week in high summer.
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