Two individuals have been sentenced to prison for their involvement in the theft of a £5 million (€6m) gold toilet from Blenheim Palace in the UK.
The thieves forcibly entered the premises and removed the fully-functioning 18-carat gold toilet during a heist in 2019.
James Sheen, 40, and Michael Jones, 39, were members of the gang responsible for planning and executing the burglary at the historic Oxfordshire estate.
This remarkable toilet was designed by Italian artist Maurizio Cattelan and served as a major attraction in an exhibition at Blenheim Palace, the birthplace of former British Prime Minister Winston Churchill.
Following the theft, the unique toilet was either dismantled or melted down and quickly sold, and it has never been recovered.
The theft was executed by thieves wielding sledgehammers who smashed their way in, according to testimony at Oxford Crown Court.
Blenheim Palace in Oxfordshire is notable as the birthplace of former British Prime Minister Winston Churchill.
Sheen, from Wellingborough, Northamptonshire, had earlier pleaded guilty to burglary, conspiracy to transfer criminal property, and one count of transferring criminal property.
Jones, hailing from Oxford, was convicted of burglary after a trial.
They gained access to the palace grounds by driving through locked wooden gates in two stolen vehicles before breaking in through a window.
Named ‘America’, the toilet weighed around 98kg, was insured for $6m, and was composed of gold valued at approximately £3m.
Judge Ian Pringle KC remarked while passing sentence: “This bold and audacious heist took no more than five-and-a-half minutes to complete.”
During the hearing, it was noted that James Sheen was already serving over 19 years in prison for offenses including attacks on cash machines, a museum burglary, and fraud, with a scheduled release not before 2032.
Sheen was sentenced to an additional four years, which will be served consecutively to his current term.
“You were part of the group of five men who violently broke into Blenheim Palace that night and stole the extremely valuable golden toilet,” the judge stated.
“You were likely the individual who wielded the sledgehammer, on which your DNA was found, that was used to detach the functioning toilet from its pipes.
“To do otherwise would suggest that you committed this act without consequence.”
Judge Pringle sentenced Jones to 27 months after concluding that he was not definitively part of the group that executed the burglary.
“You made visits to Blenheim Palace twice in the days preceding the break-in,” he elaborated.
“Your role was intended for reconnaissance of the museum, to pinpoint the exact location of the golden toilet, and to determine the fastest route in and out of the palace—of that, I have no doubt.”
“Although there are no witnesses to corroborate your presence on the night in question, I cannot conclusively confirm that you were among the burglars who entered the palace that evening.”
