Four Individuals Facing Charges in Connection with Blenheim Gold Toilet Heist

Four individuals have now been charged in connection with the high-profile theft of a £4.8 million gold toilet from Blenheim Palace, following its mysterious disappearance in an overnight raid in September 2019.

 

This marks a significant development in the case, which had previously seen several arrests by the police but no formal charges brought against any suspects.

 

The stolen art installation, an 18-carat gold lavatory, had been the centerpiece of a 2019 exhibition by Italian artist Maurizio Cattelan at the Duke of Marlborough's historic country estate, the birthplace of Winston Churchill. This unique piece of art had previously been displayed at the Guggenheim Museum in New York in 2016, drawing massive crowds of more than 100,000 people eager to experience it.

 

The individuals now facing charges are set to appear at Oxford Magistrates' Court on November 28. James Sheen, aged 39 and from Wellingborough, Northamptonshire, faces charges of burglary, conspiracy to transfer criminal property, and transferring criminal property. Michael Jones, aged 38 and hailing from Oxford, has been charged with one count of burglary. Meanwhile, Fred Doe, aged 35 and from Ascot, Berkshire, and Bora Guccuk, aged 39 and from West London, each face one count of conspiracy to transfer criminal property.

 

The stolen lavatory has yet to be recovered, leaving many to wonder about its whereabouts. Dominic Hare, the palace's chief executive, expressed his hope that this seemingly "pointless" theft would ultimately serve to "immortalize" the artwork, adding a unique layer to its story.

 

The Johnson Partnership

Nottingham Solicitors

 

01159 419141