Man stole 18-carat gold toilets in British palace and convicted with his accomplices
Who is the thief A golden toilet from a British palace He was convicted Tuesday and worked with an accomplice to help cash out the trophy of 18 carats of art that had been insured for over $6 million.
Prosecutors said Michael Jones conducted a reconnaissance at Blenheim Palace, a rural mansion (the day before theft) born by British wartime leader Winston Churchill. He described this experience as “glorious.”
He returned before dawn on September 14, 2019, when at least two other men armed with sledgehammers and crowbars smashed the windows and pried the toilet from the hill. Police said at the time that the demolition caused “great damage and flooding of the building” due to the full function of the toilet and its previous connection to the Blenheim Palace plumbing system. The men fled the stolen vehicles.
“It was a bold raid that had been carefully planned and executed,” prosecutor Shan Saunders said. “But those responsible were not careful enough to leave a series of evidence in the form of forensics, CCTV footage and telephone data.”
The pure potty was stolen a few days after installation. It has never been restored, but is believed to have been cut and sold.
AP photos, files
The Golden Toilet is a satirical work titled “America,” by Italian concept artist Maurizio Cattelan, who mocked too much wealth. It weighs only over 215 pounds. The value of gold was $3.6 million at that time.
After the theft, Catland said he hoped the robbery was “a kind of action inspired by Robin Hood,” according to Blenheim Palace.
The work has been previously exhibited at the Guggenheim Museum in New York. The museum offered the work to President Trump during his tenure as President Donald Trump after he asked to borrow Van Gogh’s paintings.
Jones, 39, was convicted of burglary at Oxford Crown Court.
The theft was planned by 40-year-old James Sheen, who previously pleaded guilty to burglary, conspiracy and transfer of criminal property.
Prosecutors said Sheen then entered into an agreement with Fred Doe to cash in. In a series of text messages, Sheen calls the loot “cars”, but he’s actually talking about gold.
Sheen told Doe in a message: “I will be connected to Ya and I’ll get your path.”
“I can sell that car for you in two seconds…so come see me tomorrow,” Doe said in his reply.
Doe, 36, also known as Frederick, was convicted of conspiring to transfer criminal property.
The juror was acquitted and Bora Guccuk, 41, was charged with the fourth man.
