London: A British man has been found guilty of orchestrating the theft of an 18-carat gold toilet, a fully functional artwork valued at $6 million, from Winston Churchill’s birthplace. The toilet, titled “America”, was created by Italian artist Maurizio Cattelan and had been on display at Blenheim Palace in southern England—a UNESCO World Heritage Site and a major tourist attraction.
The theft, which took place in September 2019, was executed in a swift but destructive manner. The culprits broke into Blenheim Palace through a window, smashed down a wooden door, and forcibly removed the gold toilet from its plumbing, causing extensive damage. Prosecutors believe the toilet, which weighed approximately 98 kilograms (216 pounds), was subsequently dismantled and melted down to be sold off in smaller quantities of gold.
A British man was convicted of stealing an 18-carat golden toilet, a piece of artwork titled ‘America,’ from the Churchill family seat of Blenheim Palace in southern England https://t.co/PLIfV272C4 pic.twitter.com/ZoS1QzaiPu
— Reuters (@Reuters) March 19, 2025
Following an investigation, 39-year-old Michael Jones was convicted of burglary by Oxford Crown Court after pleading not guilty. Meanwhile, 36-year-old Fred Doe was found guilty of conspiracy to convert or transfer criminal property, namely the stolen gold. However, another suspect, 41-year-old Bora Guccuk, was acquitted of the same charge.
James Sheen, also 39, had already pleaded guilty before the trial to multiple offenses, including burglary and conspiring to convert or transfer the stolen gold.
Shan Saunders of the Crown Prosecution Service highlighted the meticulous planning behind the crime. “This was an audacious raid which had been carefully planned and executed – but those responsible were not careful enough, leaving a trail of evidence in the form of forensics, CCTV footage, and phone data,” Saunders stated.
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Despite efforts to track down the stolen artwork, authorities have been unable to recover any part of the golden toilet. “While none of the gold was ever recovered,” Saunders added, “we are confident this prosecution has played a part in disrupting a wider crime and money laundering network.”
The case underscores the increasing prevalence of high-profile art thefts and the challenges law enforcement faces in recovering stolen treasures once they have entered illicit markets.
