Two Men Sentenced to Prison for Stealing Gold Toilet

• The convicted men received prison sentences for the theft of a gold toilet, a piece of modern art.
• The theft occurred at Blenheim Palace in 2019, with the criminals stealing the item valued at £4.75 million.
• Parts of the toilet have still not been found, and it is likely that it was melted down or cut up.

This was reported by Associated Press, The Independent, BBC.

The Theft of the Gold Toilet from Blenheim Palace

Two men were sentenced at Oxford Crown Court for the theft of a gold toilet valued at £4.75 million from Blenheim Palace. The crime took place on the morning of September 14, 2019, when a group of five thieves broke a window and stole the 18-carat toilet, which was part of a modern art exhibition.

The convicted individuals — James Sheen, 40, and Michael Jones, 39, received prison sentences of four and 27 months respectively. Sheen pleaded guilty to theft, conspiracy, and handling stolen goods, while Jones was found guilty of theft after a trial.

The toilet, known as "America," weighed about 98 kilograms and was insured for $6 million (£4.75 million). After the theft, it was likely cut up or melted down, and no part of it has been found to date.

Michael Jones had previously worked for James Sheen and had visited the palace before the theft. Police discovered that his phone had search queries related to news about the stolen toilet.

Another suspect, Frederick Dow, assisted in selling part of the gold after the theft but received a suspended sentence in May for his involvement in the crime.

Judge Ian Pringle stated that the crime was "brazen" and lasted no more than five and a half minutes.

Теги: Злочинність