A thief who stole an 18-karat gold toilet worth over $6 million from Blenheim Palace has been convicted, along with an accomplice who helped cash in on the spoils.
The audacious art heist
Michael Jones, 39, was convicted of burglary in Oxford Crown Court for stealing the fully functional golden toilet, titled America, created by Italian artist Maurizio Cattelan.
The theft took place in the early hours of September 14, 2019, when Jones, along with at least two accomplices, smashed a window at Blenheim Palace—the birthplace of Winston Churchill. Within five minutes, they pried the toilet from its plumbing, causing a major flood before escaping in stolen vehicles.
Prosecutor Shan Saunders called it a “carefully planned and executed” heist but noted that forensic evidence, CCTV footage, and phone data ultimately led to the suspects’ arrests.
A priceless piece—lost forever?
The 98-kilogram (215-pound) toilet, a satirical artwork mocking excessive wealth, was insured for nearly £5 million ($6 million) but is believed to have been cut up and sold for scrap.
Previously, the artwork was displayed at the Guggenheim Museum in New York, which once offered it to then-U.S. President Donald Trump after he requested to borrow a Van Gogh painting.
The criminals and their coded messages
The heist mastermind, James Sheen, 40, had already pleaded guilty to burglary, conspiracy, and transferring criminal property.
After the theft, Sheen brokered a deal with Fred Doe (aka Frederick Sines, 36) to sell the gold. In text messages, they used coded language, referring to the toilet as a “car”:
Sheen: “I’ll link up with ya, I got something right up your path.”
Doe: “I can sell that car for you in two seconds… so come and see me tomorrow.”
Doe was convicted of conspiracy to transfer criminal property, while a fourth suspect, Bora Guccuk, 41, was acquitted.
