Duo Convicted in Daring £4.75m Golden Toilet Heist at Blenheim Palace

On March 18, 2025, two men were convicted at Oxford Crown Court for their roles in the theft of a £4.75 million, fully-functioning 18-carat gold toilet from Blenheim Palace, the Oxfordshire birthplace of Sir Winston Churchill. The toilet, an artwork titled *America* by Italian artist Maurizio Cattelan, was a centerpiece of an exhibition until it was stolen in a swift raid in the early hours of September 14, 2019. Court proceedings revealed that the toilet has likely been dismantled and disposed of since the heist.

Michael Jones, 39, from Oxford, was found guilty of burglary. He had visited Blenheim Palace twice prior to the theft, including a trip the day before where he used the golden toilet, later describing the experience to jurors as “splendid.” Despite his claim that these visits were not reconnaissance missions, evidence showed otherwise. Jones had worked as a roofer and builder for James Sheen, 40, from Wellingborough, Northamptonshire, since around 2018, serving as Sheen’s “right-hand man” and handling payments for other employees. Sheen had previously pleaded guilty in April 2024 to burglary, conspiracy to transfer criminal property, and one count of transferring criminal property.

Frederick Doe, 36, also known as Frederick Sines, from Winkfield, Windsor, Berkshire, was convicted of conspiracy to transfer criminal property for assisting Sheen in selling portions of the stolen gold in the weeks following the theft. Meanwhile, Bora Guccuk, 41, from west London, was acquitted of the same charge. Jones’s arrest on October 16, 2019, uncovered phone activity showing he searched for news reports about the stolen toilet on September 20, reinforcing the prosecution’s case.

The theft caused significant damage to the UNESCO World Heritage site, with the toilet—plumbed into the palace—ripped from its fittings. Doe’s sentencing is scheduled for May 19, 2025, while dates for Jones and Sheen remain pending.

**Links and References:**

- Original article: [The Independent - Men found guilty of stealing £4.75m golden toilet from Blenheim Palace](https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/crime/gold-toilet-blenheim-palace-theft-guilty-b2523456.html)