Luxury Mayfair flat where 1949 diamond robbery which inspired The Pink Panther film took place put up for sale for £4.4milion Stunning Mayfair property, once home to notorious socialite Lady Norah Docker, on sale for £4.4 million In 1949, £52,000 worth of diamonds - including a spectacular pink diamond ring - were stolen from the flat Theft was the biggest of its day and inspired 1963 Pink Panther film, which features a giant pink gem Fourth floor, Art Deco apartment - a stone's throw from Claridge's - has two en suite bedrooms and granite kitchen New owner of historic flat will have to pay £17,775 annual service charge and £400 ground rent A luxury flat where £52,000 worth of diamonds were once stolen, a crime that inspired the 1963 The Pink Panther film, has been put on sale today for £4.4million. The stunning Mayfair property was once home to Britain's most notorious socialite Lady Norah Docker, who was involved in scandal after scandal between the 1950s and 1970s. Together with husband Sir Bernard Docker, the couple entertained the likes of Peter Sellers, Max Bygraves, Jane Russell and Gracie Fields at the apartment - located a stone's throw away from Claridge's. In 1948 almost £52,000 worth of diamonds, including a spectacular pink diamond ring, were stolen from the property. The plot of the later film follows Princess Dala, who receives the largest diamond in the world - called The Pink Panther - from her father. The gem is so called because of an unusual flaw it has - a discolouration that looks like a leaping panther. The film follows the numerous attempts to steal the gem, which eventually goes missing at a costume party. The two prime suspects are arrested following a police chase. Scroll down for original 1963 Pink Panther movie trailer... Lap of luxury: An apartment where one of Britain's most notorious robberies - said to have inspired The Pink Panther films - took place is for sale for £4.4million Period property: The flat, once home to scandalous socialite Lady Norah Docker and her husband Sir Bernard, is located in central Mayfair and boasts numerous Art Deco features, including this striking black and white marble flooring in the entrance hall Historical: £52,000 worth of diamonds were once stolen from the 1,604 sq ft flat which has two bedrooms, large living space and elaborate kitchen-diner Ten years after the robbery at the Mayfair flat, the Dockers were hit again - this time when their Rolls-Royce was robbed of £200,000 of precious gems while it was parked in Southampton. Detectives from Scotland Yard believed it was down to criminals who had tailed the couple for months. Two raids on 'London gang leaders' were executed - with Mayfair legend blaming the Kray twins. No gems were ever found. The Art Deco apartment was put on the market on Tuesday through estate agent Wetherell. It has two bedrooms, both with en suite, a large reception room, eat-in kitchen and a 24-hour concierge. Located on the fourth floor of Claridge House, the 1,604 sq ft corner apartment has an Art Deco fireplace, ornate ceiling cornice and moldings and a marble floor entrance hall. Top technology: The renovated living room comes with a Bang & Olufsen wide-screen home entertainment system, pictured, and surround sound In keeping: The apartment, which comes with a £17,000 annual service charge, has been tastefully decorated to be period-sensitive, including an Art Deco fireplace Stylish dining: The apartment, which commands a £400-a-year ground rent, has a luxurious Macassar ebony and granite kitchen, pictured Precious gems: Sir Bernard Docker and Lady Norah Docker pictured with their son Lance at Red Cross gala in Monte Carlo in the 50s Lady Docker was robbed twice in the space of ten years, with criminals making off with hundreds of thousands of pounds of jewels. The first robbery took place in 1949 at the flat in Mayfair, where jewels valued at £52,000 were robbed. Among the items stolen were a giant pink diamond ring, which is thought to have inspired the Pink Panther film. In the book Gone Shopping: The Story of Shirley Pitts - Queen of Thieves, it talks about an underworld figure called Billy B, who was known as a 'gentleman burglar'. Billy B is rumoured to have climbed up a drainpipe to rob Lady Docker. She is thought to have seen him during the robbery but didn't pick him out of the identity parade because she fancied him. The pair, according to the book, were then rumoured to have had an affair. Ten years after the robbery at the Mayfair flat, the Dockers were hit again, this time when their Rolls-Royce was robbed of £200,000 of precious gems while it was parked in Southampton. Detectives from Scotland Yard believed it was down to serious criminals who had tailed the couple for months. The Flying Squad carried out raids on two 'London gang leaders' with Mayfair legend having it down as the Kray twins. No gems were found. Sir Bernard Docker, speaking after the theft, said: 'Norah is terribly upset. Now she is practically down to the jewellery she stands up in - about £15,000 to £20,000 worth. The Macassar ebony and granite kitchen is equipped with several top-end appliances. There is a marble bathroom, air conditioning in the largest rooms and networked Bang & Olufsen sound and vision home entertainment system. The flat has a £4.4 million asking price, with whoever buys it having a £17,775 annual service charge and £400 ground rent. Peter Wetherell, who is handling the sale, today described it as a 'spectacular Mayfair apartment'. He said: 'The provenance of the apartment is highly interesting and unique. Lady Nora Docker was a high-society hostess and celebrity, from an age before celebrities really existed. As her London home it has been host to some really interesting people and parties and played a role in events that were the talk of high-society and the country between the 1950s and early 1980s. Its truly a place with a glamorous history. The views onto Claridges Hotel and Davies Street are iconic Mayfair. Claridge House is a classic Mayfair apartment building and benefits from an outstanding prime location, under 50 yards from the entrance of the world famous Claridges Hotel. Lady Docker was born in Derby in 1903, where she lived above a butchers. She moved to London as a young woman and worked as a dance hostess in the capital's Cafe de Paris. Her first husband - from 1938 to his death in 1945 - was Clement Callingham, head of Henekey's wine and spirit merchants. He left her £1.5 million and an interest in the wine business. Slumber: The flat, where the Dockers entertained the likes of Peter Sellers, Max Bygraves, Jane Russell and Gracie Fields, has two en suite bedrooms Cosy: Another of the flat's beautiful bedrooms where Lady Norah Docker - one of the country's first scandalous celebrities - would have slept Ample storage: The larger of the two bedrooms comes with floor-to-ceiling wardrobes and mirrors, installed in the centre of the room, pictured In 1946 she married Sir William Collins, the President of Fortnum & Mason, who died two years later, leaving her £6 million. One year on, she married wealthy industrialist Sir Bernard Docker, who was chairman of the Daimler Motorcar Company. The couple were renowned for their excessive lifestyle, owning yachts and country homes. Sir Bernard commissioned a series of uber-luxury Daimlers built to Lady Docker's specifications. This included a gold plated 1951 Daimler, a blue two-door lizard skin upholstery coupe from 1952, a silver and red crocodile skin Daimler, circa 1953, another in 1954 and a £42,000 gold and Zebra hide coupe in 1955. Swish: The flat has a stunning marble bathroom, complete with large bath and glass-paneled bathroom cabinets Luxurious: The lesser of the two bathrooms is still palatial and is also fitted out with a selection of high-spec appliances and fittings Inspiration: The £52,000 jewellery robbery that took place in the apartment is said to have inspired the 1963 film The Pink Panther, a poster for which is pictured left, featuring David Niven, right and Peter Sellers, left. On the right is a scene from the film featuring actress Capucine and Peter Sellers In 1954 the couple hosted the party of the decade with more than 200 celebrities, exiled Royals and business millionaires attending. The lavish bash cost £4,000 and Lady Docker wore £200,000 of jewellery. In April 1958 the Dockers were invited by Prince Rainier to the christening of Prince Albert in Monaco and caused a scandal. They brought Lady Docker's son Lance Callingham, but he was not allowed to attend. Furious at the decision, Lady Docker declared 'I'm at war with Rainier' and tore up a Monacan flag. This resulted in the Dockers being expelled from Monaco and banned from re-entering the Principality. In 1974 she sued a newspaper over reports she had been thrown out of a Jersey hotel for using 'naughty language'. Her issue was that the headline wasn't large enough. A judge awarded damages of a halfpenny and ordered her to pay her costs, estimated £1,500. Sir Bernard died aged 81 in May 1978, with Lady Docker passing away in a Paddington hotel in 1983 at the age of 78. One obituary described the couple as giving 'a drab postwar Europe the glamour it had lacked for so long.' Location, Location, Location: The beautiful corner flat is located on the fourth floor of Claridge House, pictured - which is only a stone's throw from Claridge's in Mayfair The Pink Panther was directed by Blake Edwards and stared David Niven, Peter Sellers, Robert Wagner, Capucine, and Claudia Cardinale. The plot follows Princess Dala, who receives the largest diamond in the world - called The Pink Panther - from her father. The gem is so called because of an unusual flaw it has - a discoloration that looks like a leaping panther. During the film Princess Dala, played by Claudia Cardinale, holidays with noted British playboy Sir Charles Lytton, played by David Niven. He leads a secret life as a jewel thief called 'The Phantom' and has his eyes on the Pink Panther. The Phantom's American playboy nephew, George - played by Robert Wagner - also hopes to steal the jewel and blame it on Sir Charles. However, on the Phantom's trail is Jacques Clouseau - a French police inspector. However, in dramatic scenes it is eventually revealed that inspector Clouseau had pocketed the gem for himself. He is taken to jail. The film introduced the cartoon character of the same name. Quite the scandal! Lady Norah Docker, who moved to London as a young woman to be a dance hostess, pictured in 1957 Lady Docker was born in Derby in 1903. She lived above a butchers shop for the first few years of her life. Her first husband - who she was with from 1938 to his death in 1945 - was Clement Callingham. He was head of Henekey's wine and spirit merchants. He left her a generous £1.5million. A few months later, in 1946 she married Sir William Collins - the President of Fortnum & Mason. He died two years later - leaving her a cool £6million. One year on, she married wealthy industrialist Sir Bernard Docker. He was chairman of the Daimler Motorcar Company. Sir Bernard even commissioned a series of uber-luxury Daimler motorcars - to be built to Lady Docker's specifications. The commission included a gold plated 1951 Daimler, a blue two-door lizard skin upholstery coupe from 1952, a silver and red crocodile skin Daimler, circa 1953, another in 1954 and a £42,000 gold and Zebra hide coupe in 1955. In April 1958 the scandalous pair were invited by Prince Rainier to the christening of Prince Albert in Monaco. They brought Lady Docker's son - Lance Callingham - but he was not allowed to attend. Furious, Lady Docker declared 'I'm at war with Rainier' and tore up a Monacan flag. This resulted in the Dockers being expelled from Monaco and were banned from re-entering. In 1974 Lady Docker sued a newspaper over reports she had been thrown out of a Jersey hotel for using 'naughty language'. Lady Docker passed away in a Paddington hotel in 1983 at the age of 78.