Daring Heist Ends in Convictions, But Stolen Toilet Remains Missing
A British court has found two men guilty over the theft of a solid gold toilet from Blenheim Palace, the birthplace of Winston Churchill. The 18-carat toilet, valued at £2.8 million ($3.5 million), was stolen during an overnight raid on September 14, 2019, and has never been recovered.
At Oxford Crown Court, Michael Jones, 39, was convicted of burglary, while Frederick Doe, 36, was found guilty of conspiracy to transfer criminal property. Their five-minute heist left behind sledgehammers and a trail of forensic evidence, CCTV footage, and phone data, prosecutors said. The stolen artwork, titled “America”, was a centerpiece in an exhibition by Italian artist Maurizio Cattelan.
One suspect, James Sheen, 40, previously pleaded guilty to burglary and money laundering charges, while Bora Guccuk, 41, was acquitted. Prosecutor Shan Saunders stated that the toilet was likely melted down or sold off, and that the prosecution has helped disrupt a wider criminal network.
Doe will be sentenced on May 19, while sentencing dates for Jones and Sheen are yet to be scheduled. Despite the convictions, the whereabouts of the stolen gold toilet remain a mystery.
Source: CNA