Two men have been convicted for their involvement in the theft of an 18-carat gold toilet stolen from Blenheim Palace in 2019. The artwork by Italian artist Maurizio Cattelan, worth an estimated six million euros, was part of an exhibition and functioned as a regular toilet for visitors.
In the early morning of September 2019, five men with stolen vehicles entered the grounds of the English manor house. They broke into the listed building through a window, smashed doors and managed to remove the 98-kg toilet within minutes. The artwork has since disappeared without a trace. Presumably it was melted down and sold in parts.
James Sheen (40), who previously pleaded guilty to the burglary and trafficking of the gold, was sentenced to four years in prison. This sentence follows an earlier sentence of almost 20 years in prison for other thefts. Co-defendant Michael Jones (39) received 27 months in prison. Although he may not have been physically present during the robbery, the judge deemed his role in the planning and execution essential.
A third suspect, who acted as an intermediary in the sale of the gold, was earlier sentenced to 240 hours of community service and a suspended prison sentence of 21 months. A total of five people were involved in the theft.
The robbery caused significant water damage to Blenheim Palace, the birthplace of Winston Churchill. The gold toilet was previously on display at the Guggenheim Museum in New York.
Source: NU.co.uk