Curator dons Gladiator kit and confronts rival in real life museum battle

In the guise of Roman centurion Maximus Gluteus and armed with bloodthirsty stories of yesteryear, Keith Mulhearn has brought the past to life for the benefit of thousands of tourists.

But there was nothing imaginary about his temper when told the man who had taken over his job as curator of the Roman Bath House Museum in York was wearing his soldier's outfit and had stolen his replica weaponry, a court heard yesterday.

Like a crazed gladiator the 40-year-old strode into the building - where almost 2,000 years ago Romans gathered to wash and socialise - to allegedly confront the enemy in the form of new curator Graham Harris, 58.

Holding a Roman-style helmet and grabbing a 'stabbing' sword he came face to face with the frail Mr Harris, who was also wearing a Roman costume as part of his job.