Key points:
- A £2.8m gold toilet was stolen in a 2019 raid at Blenheim Palace
- Prosecutors say the artwork was likely melted down and never recovered
- Three men deny charges, while a fourth has pleaded guilty
A COURT has heard that a gold toilet worth £2.8 million was stolen in just five minutes from an art exhibition at Blenheim Palace, in south-east England, in 2019. The 18-carat fully functioning toilet, titled America, was one of the highlights of an exhibition by Italian artist Maurizio Cattelan at the historic English country house.
According to AFP, the theft took place in the early hours of September 14, 2019, with thieves using sledgeh
ammers to break in. Prosecutor Julian Christopher told Oxford Crown Court that the criminals left their tools at the scene, suggesting they had no intention of returning.
‘The gold it was made from was itself worth in the region of £2.8 million and was insured for $6 million,’ Christopher said. However, the artwork was never recovered, and authorities believe it was melted down and split into smaller amounts of gold.
Trial underway for three defendants
Michael Jones, 39, has pleaded not guilty to stealing the artwork, while two other defendants, Frederick Sines and Bora Guccuk, deny a charge of conspiracy to transfer criminal property. A fourth man, James Sheen, has already admitted to burglary.
The theft of America captured global attention due to its unique nature and high value. The solid gold toilet had previously been displayed at New York’s Guggenheim Museum, where visitors were allowed to use it.
As the trial continues, prosecutors are working to establish the full details of the crime, but the fate of the missing artwork remains a mystery.
