Condenan a ladrones que robaron un baño de oro satírico de la casa de Churchill
The daring theft of a unique and operational artwork by conceptual artist Maurizio Cattelan has led to the conviction of three men.
A thief who stole a golden toilet from Blenheim Palace, the country mansion where Winston Churchill was born, was convicted along with an accomplice for aiding in the theft of the 18-carat artwork valued at nearly 5 million pounds (5.9 million euros).
Michael Jones, 39 years old, was found guilty of burglary at Oxford Crown Court. According to the prosecution, the day before the theft, he used the toilet, a satirical piece titled «America» by the Italian conceptual artist Maurizio Cattelan, on display at Blenheim Palace. He described the experience as «splendid».
He returned before dawn on September 14, 2019, with at least two other men armed with tools. They broke a window and stole the toilet in just five minutes, leaving behind a damaging flood as they fled in stolen vehicles.
«It was a bold, planned, and carefully executed attack,» said prosecutor Shan Saunders.
The Cattelan artwork was known for its excessive wealth and weighed over 98 kg. Its value at the time was 2.8 million pounds (3.3 million euros). The piece had previously been exhibited at the Guggenheim Museum in New York.
The golden toilet has never been recovered, but it is believed to have been cut up and sold. The theft was orchestrated by James Sheen, 40 years old, who had previously pleaded guilty to burglary, conspiracy, and handling stolen goods. Sheen had negotiated a deal with Fred Doe to secure the loot, referring to it as a «car» in text messages, but it was actually gold.
«I’ll get in touch with you, I have something just for you,» Sheen told Doe in a message. «I can sell your car in two seconds.» Doe replied, «See you tomorrow.»
Deer, also known as Frederick Sines, 36 years old, was found guilty of conspiracy to handle stolen goods. A fourth man accused of conspiracy, Bora Guccuk, 41 years old, was acquitted by the jury.
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