Jury convicts thief who stole golden toilet from english palace

A British Court in England has on Tuesday March 18, 2025, convicted a man who stole a golden toilet from Blenheim Palace, the birthplace of Winston Churchill.

Michael Jones, 39, was found guilty of burglary, while his accomplice, Fred Doe, was convicted of conspiracy to transfer stolen goods.

According to Associated Press (AP), the stolen toilet has 18-carat gold artwork worth nearly £5 million pounds (more than $6 million) has never been recovered.

The toilet, named “America,” was created by Italian artist Maurizio Cattelan as a satire on excessive wealth.

Jones reportedly tested the fully functional toilet during a visit to the palace before stealing it.

He returned on September 14, 2019, with at least two other men armed with sledgehammers and crowbars.

They broke into the palace, ripped the toilet from its plumbing, and fled in stolen vehicles within five minutes.

The theft caused severe flooding in the palace due to the damaged plumbing.

Prosecutors described the crime as an “audacious raid” that was carefully planned and executed.

However, forensic evidence, CCTV footage, and phone records helped police track down the thieves.

James Sheen, 40, admitted to planning the heist and pleaded guilty to burglary, conspiracy, and money laundering.

Sheen later contacted Doe to sell the stolen gold, referring to it as a “car” in coded messages.

Doe responded, assuring Sheen that he could sell the gold quickly.

A fourth suspect, Bora Guccuk, 41, was acquitted after the jury found insufficient evidence against him.

Authorities believe the stolen toilet was cut up and sold for its gold content.

The golden toilet had previously been displayed at The Guggenheim Museum in New York.

The museum once offered the artwork to former U.S. President Donald Trump, who had requested a Van Gogh painting.

The case has sparked discussions about high-profile art thefts and security measures in museums and historical sites.

Jones and Doe now await sentencing, with legal experts predicting lengthy prison terms.

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