The stolen trains were larger than normal models

The collection, which was estimated to be worth at least �20,000 and had "massive sentimental value", was housed in a small museum in Blairgowrie.

Robert Adam carried out the theft over 10 weeks after the museum closed.

Sentence on the 51-year-old, from Coupar Angus, in Perthshire, was deferred at Perth Sheriff Court.

Adam admitted stealing model railway equipment from Keathbank Mill between January and March this year.

Small museum

The collection had been built up by enthusiast Patrick Stewart-Blacker over the course of a decade.

It was housed and displayed at a small museum at Keathbank Mill before it closed down.

His son Peter, 45, made an emotional plea for its return after it went missing earlier this year.

It was my father's last big project and took up 10 years of his life Peter Stewart-Blacker

The court heard that Adam came under suspicion because he had previously worked at the mill.

He returned several times during the first 10 weeks of this year, stealing almost the entire collection.

Fiscal depute Margo Addison-Scott said the value of the track and engines stolen was in the region of �20,000.

The electrically-powered trains were all hand made in metal and ran on a track which was too big to be contained within a private house.

After the theft Adam was found to have approached specialist dealers in an attempt to cash in on the stolen goods.

Auction site

He even tried to sell part of the collection at a car boot sale.

However, police caught up with Adam when he offered items for sale on internet auction site eBay.

Detectives recognised them during a search of the site and made contact with the seller, who turned out to be Adam.

Items were offered for sale on eBay

Peter Stewart-Blacker said the trains and track had been stolen while efforts were under way to find a new home for the collection.

"It has a massive sentimental value and we really wanted to keep it together," he said.

Mr Stewart-Blacker said he had been told that a substantial part of the collection had been found by police.

"I'm looking forward to getting it back," he added.

"Until I get it back we won't know exactly how much of it has been saved. He had been selling it for a while.