A Folkestone commuter has gone on trial accused of stealing an antique viola worth £300,000.

The instrument was left on a London to Dover Priory train by a member of the London Symphony Orchestra.

It was taken from the train at Folkestone West by insurance official Stephen Tillyer, a jury at Canterbury Crown Court has heard.

But Tillyer, 49, from Gloster Close, Hawkinge denied stealing the viola and case – including two bows each worth £35,000 – and also a schoolboy’s rucksack, which had also been left on the train.

Prosecutor Neil Ross said the incident was caught on CCTV showing Tillyer taking the two items as the train arrived at Folkestone West station in January.

PC Jack Tomlin from the British Transport Police took stills from the video and confronted Tillyer two days later when he arrived at the station.

He allegedly told the officer: “This is a mistake. I haven’t stolen anything. I picked something up on the train.”

PC Tomlin said Tillyer then took him to a vehicle in the car park where the viola and its case and the schoolboy’s rucksack were found in the boot.

The jury heard a statement from musician Edward Vanderspar, who had been recording with the LSO in Hampstead, and had travelled to his home in Marden on the 16.32 London Canon Street train.

He revealed that when he realised he had left the 16 Century instrument on the train in desperation he dialled 999!

He said: “The train was busy. During the journey I was extremely tired and spent the journey reading and napping.

“I started panicking and I immediately rang 999 because the instrument is so important to me, not only professionally but also emotionally!" - Edward Vanderspar

“When the train was approaching Marden I was in a daze from being so tired. I suddenly realised that I had to get off the train. I was in such a rush I forgot to get my viola.”

Mr Vanderspar said it was only when he got into his car at the station he realised the instrument was missing.

“I started panicking and I immediately rang 999 because the instrument is so important to me, not only professionally but also emotionally!

“My instinct was to try to chase the train but my knowledge of its route was not sufficient.

“After 48 hours of complete nightmare for me I was told it had been recovered.”

The viola is a Ventura Linarolo and a Picattle bow similar to the ones lost was valued by Sotheby's at £35,000.

The jury was shown footage from the train's onboard CCTV which the prosecutor claimed caught Tillyer taking the rucksack and then walking towards the viola case.

He alleged the video showed Tillyer walking past, “stopping and appearing to look up and down the carriage before taking it from the shelf, having first looked at a label”.

The trial continues.