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Two British men have been sentenced to prison for their roles in the brazen 2019 theft of an 18-karat gold toilet from Blenheim Palace, Winston Churchill’s birthplace. The toilet, a satirical art piece valued at $6.4 million, has never been recovered.
James Sheen, a 40-year-old roofer, received a four-year sentence after pleading guilty to burglary, conspiracy, and transferring criminal property. His accomplice, 39-year-old Michael Jones, was sentenced to two years and three months following a burglary conviction.
The audacious heist, which took place in the early morning hours of September 2019, saw five burglars smash a window and rip the solid gold toilet from its plumbing. The toilet, weighing over 215 pounds, was part of an exhibit by Italian artist Maurizio Cattelan titled “America.” It was insured for $6 million, significantly more than the $3.5 million value of its gold at the time.
Judge Ian Pringle described the theft as a “bold and brazen heist” that took just five and a half minutes. The artwork, a commentary on consumer culture, has not been seen since.
Adding to the intrigue, Jones had booked a private viewing of the toilet the day before the theft, ostensibly to take photographs. During his testimony, he described his time on the golden throne as “splendid.”
The following morning, the thieves used stolen vehicles to crash through the palace gates and smash a window Jones had photographed, making off with the golden commode. The resulting damage to the 18th-century UNESCO World Heritage site was substantial.