Two men have been convicted for their roles in the audacious theft of an 18-carat gold toilet valued at £4.75 million from Blenheim Palace, the birthplace of Sir Winston Churchill. The fully functioning toilet, designed by Italian artist Maurizio Cattelan, was stolen during a dramatic raid in the early hours of September 14, 2019, just two days after it was installed as an art exhibit at the renowned Oxfordshire stately home.

On Tuesday, jurors at Oxford Crown Court found Michael Jones, 39, guilty of burglary after a trial where it was revealed he had undertaken reconnaissance visits to the palace prior to the theft. Jones, a roofer and builder from Oxford who had worked closely with his co-defendant James Sheen, was seen on CCTV taking photos of the toilet and the windows used to gain entry. During his testimony, he described his experience using the gold toilet the day before its theft as “splendid.”

Sheen, 40, from Wellingborough, Northamptonshire, had previously pleaded guilty to burglary and conspiracy to transfer criminal property. Investigators found a connection between Sheen and the stolen toilet, including DNA evidence and gold fragments on his clothing. He employed Jones in his construction business and relied on him for various tasks, effectively making Jones his trusted accomplice.

Frederick Doe, 36, of Wynfield, Berkshire, was found guilty of conspiracy to transfer criminal property. The court heard that he facilitated the process of selling some of the stolen gold shortly after the toilet was taken. A fourth suspect, Bora Guccuk, 41, from west London, was acquitted of the same charge, as the jury concluded he had no knowledge of the crime.

At around 5am on the day of the burglary, a group of five men used sledgehammers and crowbars to smash their way into Blenheim Palace after driving stolen vehicles through the property’s gates. The burglary, which lasted approximately five minutes, generated significant damage, causing flooding from the toilet’s plumbing as the gang fled with the valuable artwork.

Crown Prosecutor Shan Saunders stated that while the gold toilet itself has never been recovered, it is widely believed to have been cut up and sold off in pieces following the theft. “This was an audacious raid which had been carefully planned and executed – but those responsible were not careful enough, leaving a trail of evidence,” she remarked.

Detective Superintendent Bruce Riddell, involved with the investigation, explained that the case was complex and required extensive forensic analysis, along with inquiries across the country. He noted that many ledgers of information were collected, involving CCTV footage, phone data, and witness statements.

The sentencing for Jones, Sheen, and Doe will occur later, with Doe’s sentencing scheduled for May 19. The investigation remains open as authorities believe there were additional accomplices involved in the crime, and Thames Valley Police continue to urge anyone with further information about the burglary or the stolen gold to come forward.

Source: Noah Wire Services