Overview

• Michael Jones, 39, has been convicted of stealing an 18-carat gold toilet valued at £4.75 million from Blenheim Palace in 2019.
• The artwork, titled 'America' by Maurizio Cattelan, was a fully functional toilet and a centerpiece of an exhibition at the historic site.
• James Sheen, a co-conspirator and Jones's former employer, previously pleaded guilty to burglary and conspiracy to transfer criminal property in 2024.
• Jurors are still deliberating charges against Frederick Doe and Bora Guccuk, who are accused of conspiring to sell gold from the stolen toilet.
• The theft caused significant damage to Blenheim Palace’s plumbing and infrastructure, underscoring the challenges of safeguarding high-value art.