Gold toilet worth £4.8m 'stolen in five minutes', court hears

According to court reports, a "daring theft" occurred at Blenheim Palace in September 2019, during which a solid gold toilet worth £4.8 million was stolen in just five minutes. The speed and audacity of the theft shocked the art world and raised questions about security measures.

The toilet was installed in the historic Oxfordshire mansion as part of an art exhibition and was fully functional at the time. The case is currently being heard at Oxford Crown Court, with significant public interest surrounding the trial.

Michael Jones, 39, from Divinity Road, Oxford, has denied the theft charge. Frederick Sines, 36, formerly known as Frederick Doe, from Windsor, and Bora Guccuk, 41, from West London, have both denied charges of conspiring to transfer criminal property. The defendants' pleas set the stage for a complex legal battle.

Prosecutor Julian Christopher (KC) told the court that the toilet has likely been broken down and has never been recovered. He stated that on the morning of September 14, 2019, a group of five people in two vehicles broke through the locked gates of Blenheim Palace and used sledgehammers to break into the building. The sledgehammers were allegedly left at the scene, providing crucial evidence.

Mr. Christopher revealed to the court that Jones had taken a photograph approximately 17 hours before the toilet was stolen, indicating that he was there "as a scout for the theft." He added, "This artwork has never been recovered and appears to have been broken down into small pieces of gold, never to be recovered." The lack of recovery adds a layer of intrigue to the case.

A fourth man, James Sheen, 40, from Wellingborough, Northamptonshire, pleaded guilty in April 2024 to charges of theft, transferring criminal property, and conspiracy to commit crime. Jurors heard related testimony, shedding light on the broader network involved in the crime.

The 18-carat gold toilet, named "America," was part of an exhibition by Italian conceptual artist Maurizio Cattelan. It weighed 98 kilograms and was insured for $6 million. The court heard that the gold alone was worth £2.8 million based on September 2019 gold prices. The sheer value of the stolen object underscores the gravity of the offense.

Prosecutors stated that a series of messages, voice notes, and screenshots found on the phones of Sheen, Doe, and Guccuk showed the three men negotiating the price of approximately 20 kilograms of stolen gold at £25,632 per kilogram. Guccuk, who allegedly ran a jewelry store called Pacha of London in Hatton Garden, would reportedly make a profit of around £3,000 for every kilogram of gold sold. The evidence paints a picture of a sophisticated operation.

Blenheim Palace is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and the birthplace of Sir Winston Churchill. The trial is ongoing, with the world watching as the details of this audacious art heist unfold. The outcome of the trial will have significant implications for art security and heritage protection.