Two suspects in the theft of a golden toilet in 2019 have been convicted by an Oxford court. The crime took place at Blenheim Palace, the birthplace of Winston Churchill. According to the investigation, James Sheen, 40, used a mallet to remove the toilet. He was sentenced to four years in prison, which will be added to his previous 19 years and 4 months in prison for other cases such as robbing ATMs and museums.
Michael Jones, 39, was sentenced to 27 months in prison. According to the judge, it is not certain whether he was involved in the actual robbery, but it was proven that he was watching the area before it was stolen. The day before the incident, he even tried the toilet and said it was "very nice to use."
The toilet is made of pure gold and is estimated to be worth £4.75 million or ₱450 million. After being stolen, it is believed to have been melted down or broken up and immediately sold. Another member of the group has also been convicted.
The said toilet was created by artist Maurizio Cattelan. Before it was stolen, it was on display at the Guggenheim Museum in New York. It was even offered to US President Donald Trump as a loan, but the White House rejected it. They say they prefer paintings by Van Gogh.
Cattelan also created a viral artwork of a banana attached to a wall with duct tape. It was sold in 2024 for $6.2 million at an auction in New York.
