A DUNFERMLINE man who has intervened in a legal wrangle over the ownership of an ancient gold wreath held by police failed in a bid to secure a lengthy continuation in the proceedings today (Friday).

Thomas Minogue had sought to have the adjustment period in the court process continued for six months but a judge said that was "too long" and allowed a further period of six weeks.

Murat Aksakalli and the Turkish Government have both laid claim to the 4th century BC wreath made of ancient gold which is estimated to be worth £225,000.

The valuable object was said to be used a funeral gift for royalty or nobility.

But Mr Minogue earlier entered the court action and asserted that the wreath was obtained by "violation of sepulchre" by those acting for Thomas Bruce, the 7th Earl of Elgin in 1802.

He maintained that it did not belong to the aristocrat and cannot belong to anyone other than the owners of the burial lair it was stolen from in Greece.

The action was raised at the Court of Session in Edinburgh by Police Scotland Chief Constable Sir Stephen House after Mr Aksakalli and two others were detained in October 2010 at the offices of a law firm.

No criminal proceedings were brought and the Lord Advocate later instructed that the wreath should be returned to its owner.

Mr Aksakalli, of Northfield Grove, Edinburgh, sought to get it back and maintained that it was a family heirloom.

But the Turkish government also claimed ownership and experts it instructed said they believed it was stolen from the Zeus Tapinagi site at the Menandros Monument.

The Chief Constable raised the action to get authority to dispose of the wreath. It is said that because of the competing claims he is unable to determine ownership.

It is maintained that he is willing to hand it over to whoever is entitled to it but is being prevented from doing that by "double distress". Mr Minogue told Lord Bannatyne that he had been pursuing freedom of information requests over the issue.

But Kirsty Hood, counsel for the Chief Constable, said that the extension he sought was very long and would result in considerable delays in the litigation.