Two men behind bars for stealing $6M golden toilet from Churchill’s birthplace

A UK court on Friday, June 13, 2025, jailed two men for stealing a $6 million golden toilet from Winston Churchill’s birthplace, Blenheim Palace.

Report says the stolen artwork, an 18-carat gold functioning toilet titled America, was created by Italian artist Maurizio Cattelan.

The lavish toilet had been installed in a public exhibition at the UNESCO-listed Blenheim Palace in southern England.

Prosecutors said the thieves used two stolen vehicles to crash through wooden gates into the palace before dawn on September 14, 2019.

They then smashed a window, broke down a door, and ripped the toilet from the wall within five minutes.

Oxford Crown Court heard that the toilet weighed 98 kilos and was likely melted down and sold off in parts.

No gold from the stolen toilet has ever been recovered, authorities confirmed on Friday.

James Sheen, 40, pleaded guilty to burglary, conspiring to convert the gold, and converting or transferring criminal property.

Michael Jones, 39, was found guilty of burglary after pleading not guilty but was convicted by a jury.

Judge Ian Pringle described the theft as a “bold and brazen heist” during sentencing.

The judge said Sheen and Jones played vital roles in executing the high-profile crime at the historical site.

Although Jones denied being present during the burglary, the court still held him responsible for the operation’s planning and execution.

Sheen received a four-year prison sentence, to start after finishing a nearly 20-year term for unrelated theft offences.

Jones was sentenced to 27 months in prison for his role in the theft.

Authorities believe a total of five men were involved in the theft, but only two have been convicted so far.

The artwork was valued and insured at $6 million and had drawn global attention due to its material and location.

Visitors could actually use the toilet, which had been installed with plumbing and a flushing system.

Its removal caused flooding and water damage to the palace, requiring extensive repairs after the theft.

Cattelan, the artist, called the toilet “a commentary on excess and wealth in modern America.”

Blenheim Palace, Churchill’s birthplace, had hosted the exhibition to draw international tourists and art lovers.

The heist shocked local residents and drew condemnation from cultural officials across Britain.

Investigations into the remaining suspects and the missing gold are still ongoing, police sources confirmed.

Meanwhile, security at British heritage sites has been significantly tightened since the high-profile burglary.

The golden toilet remains missing, and authorities continue to urge the public to come forward with any information.

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