British men James Sheen and Michael Jones have been convicted in the 2019 theft of a £4.8 million solid gold toilet from Blenheim Palace. The toilet, part of a contemporary art exhibit, was fully operational when taken. Sheen, identified as the mastermind, left DNA at the scene and sent an image of £520,000 in a duffel bag, believed to be proceeds from the gold sale.
Jones, who was arrested earlier in 2025, was also linked to the crime through selfies he took with the toilet before the theft. During the trial, he admitted to using the golden fixture, calling it a "splendid" experience. The toilet was removed in less than six minutes after they scheduled an advance visit to scout the exhibit.
Investigators used over 30,000 pages of digital evidence, messages, images, and DNA traces found on a sledgehammer and stolen getaway car to support their case, highlighting the coordination required for their successful prosecution.
"This wealth of evidence ultimately enabled us to secure their convictions," an officer testified during the trial.
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