Koo Stark denies stealing painting

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The Duke of York's ex-girlfriend Koo Stark appeared in court today to deny stealing a painting worth £40,000 from a former partner.

Stark, appearing at London's Isleworth Crown Court under her real name of Kathleen Stark, is accused of stealing the artwork from the flat of her former partner Warren Walker, father of her daughter Tatiana.

Stark, 56, wearing a silver-grey dress that matched her long hair, spoke only to confirm her name and deny a charge of theft from July 21.

The actress, photographer and artist, who dated Andrew in the early 1980s, is alleged to have stolen an Anthonie van Borssom oil painting, which depicts a moonlit coastal landscape.

Stark, who lives near Sloane Square in central London, will return to court for her trial on June 17.

It is expected to last up to four days.

A pre-trial review hearing was set for May 31 but the hearing might not be necessary.

American-born Stark, then aged 26, dated the Duke of York after his return from the Falklands War in 1982.

They went out together for 18 months. He went on to marry Sarah Ferguson in 1986.

In February last year, Stark was made bankrupt at the High Court over an unpaid hotel bill of £38,680.

The bankruptcy petition was brought by the Jumeirah hotel group over her stay at the five-star Jumeirah Carlton Tower Hotel in London's Knightsbridge area in 2008.

PA