Trial Reveals Gold Toilet Theft from Blenheim Palace Involved Intricate Planning

Defendant allegedly used the £4.75 million golden toilet as a visitor the day before its audacious 2019 theft.

The 18-carat gold toilet, titled 'America' and created by Italian artist Maurizio Cattelan, was stolen from Blenheim Palace in a five-minute raid in September 2019.
The toilet, valued at £4.75 million and insured for $6 million, was reportedly dismantled after the theft, with its gold content alone worth approximately £2.8 million.
Michael Jones, one of the defendants, denies burglary charges but admitted to using the fully functional toilet and photographing its surroundings the day before the heist.
Prosecutors argue that Jones' visits to the palace, during which he took photos of key locations, were reconnaissance trips, a claim he denies.
The trial involves multiple defendants, with one already pleading guilty to burglary and others facing charges of conspiracy to transfer criminal property.