Gold Toilet Theft: Court Hears Testimony of Accused

Testimony reveals details surrounding the theft of the £4.8 million golden toilet from Blenheim Palace.

A man accused of stealing a golden toilet, valued at £4.8 million, reportedly used the artwork during a visit to Blenheim Palace just a day before the heist, according to testimony presented in Oxford Crown Court.

The solid gold toilet, titled 'America', was stolen from the historic Oxfordshire stately home during the early hours of September 14, 2019, only two days after the installation became part of an exhibition.

The accused, 39-year-old Michael Jones from Oxford, denies a single count of burglary.

Co-defendants Frederick Doe, 36, from Windsor, and 41-year-old Bora Guccuk from west London, are also on trial, denying charges of conspiring to transfer criminal property.

During his court appearance, Mr. Jones noted that he described the toilet as 'splendid' after using it during his visit to the exhibition.

The 18-carat gold toilet was created by Italian conceptual artist Maurizio Cattelan.

Court proceedings detailed Jones' visits to Blenheim Palace, which he attended twice prior to the heist.

The prosecution questioned Jones about his decision to take a half-day off work to visit the exhibition rather than wait for the weekend.

Jones conceded that such half-days were not common for him but explained his interest in seeing the artwork.

Members of the public were allowed to pre-book time slots to use the toilet, which was positioned within a locked cubicle.

Photographs taken by Jones were presented to the jury, including images of the cubicle's lock and a window that was broken during the theft.

Jones admitted he utilized the toilet's facilities, and when queried about his experience, he described it again as 'splendid'.

In an additional development, the fourth defendant, James Sheen, 40, from Wellingborough in Northamptonshire, has previously pleaded guilty to burglary related to the incident.

Jones confirmed his friendship with Sheen and stated that communications exchanged around the date of the heist pertained to work-related matters and a project involving a dog kennel.

Jones denied that his visits to the palace could be interpreted as reconnaissance in preparation for the robbery.

He testified that he attended the palace previously on September 7 for a car show and again on September 13 to view the art exhibition.

The court learned that the gold toilet weighted 98 kilograms and was insured for approximately $6 million (£4.8 million).

At the time of the theft, the intrinsic value of the gold was assessed at around £2.8 million based on market prices.

Blenheim Palace, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is noted as the birthplace of former British Prime Minister Sir Winston Churchill.

The trial is ongoing.