[MSN] THIEVES have ruined a Glasgow hairstylist's night of glory - by swiping the £1000 Peter Howson print he was awarded to mark his long service.

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Crimper has £1000 print stolen

THIEVES have ruined a Glasgow hairstylist's night of glory - by swiping the
£1000 Peter Howson print he was awarded to mark his long service.

Crimper Ian Ronald - who has clocked up 20 years working for family firm
JR's - was delighted with his signed picture by the renowned Scots artist.

But he was left gutted when it was nabbed from the city's Thistle Hotel car
park the morning after the gala dinner as he was packing up to go.

Ian said today: "It was a wonderful surprise and I couldn't believe it when
I was presented with a Howson print. Now the only chance of seeing it is
from a photograph which was taken on the night."

Ian, whose family run JR's which has six salons in the Glasgow area, was
presented with a trophy and the print to mark his 20 years with the company.

The artwork was a gift from his parents John, 61, and Lyn, 60, who wanted to
commemorate their son's achievement.

Ian, 37, manages the Cardonald branch of the hairdressing chain.

More than 400 people attended the bash which was thrown as a thank you to
staff and hosted by comedian Andy Cameron.

The Howson print, titled Nimrod, depicts a boxer with a clenched fist. Ian
admired the piece and a passing remark to his dad led to his parents
choosing the signed print for him - it is distinctly marked 1/100.

Controversial Howson rose to international fame in the 1980s with his
paintings of Glasgow hardmen.

Ian added: "I only had it for a matter of hours and when I went to pack up
the following morning I placed it next to my car in the underground car
park.

"Moments later after I returned from the reception area it had gone. I am
gutted by what has happened."

The theft took place between 11am and midday last Monday.

Ian appealed to the person or people who took the print to hand it back.

He said: "This has huge sentimental value to me as it was a present from my
parents.

"Unfortunately there is no CCTV in the car park but I am just hoping that
someone may have noticed the culprit walking away with a 90 x 70mm print
under their arm.

"I would appeal to anyone out there with a conscience to return it. Even if
they hand it in to one of our salons or the police - I will just be so
grateful to have it back where it belongs."

The police were alerted to the theft and are investigating.

6:57am Monday 4th February 2008

http://www.eveningtimes.co.uk/