"This was a much finer instrument that those usually offered by this dealer, so we decided to do some more research," Scott said. An insurance company database listed the instrument as stolen.

"After a few months without it I had resigned myself absolutely to never seeing it again, so I really am delighted that this process has brought it back to me," Brind said.

Brind won the BBC Young Musician of the Year contest in 1986. He left conservatory at one point to become a snooker player, but later returned to music and currently freelances with London orchestras.