A man is currently on trial for allegedly stealing a £4.8m golden toilet from Blenheim Palace, where it was on display for just two days before disappearing. The accused, Michael Jones, visited the palace the day before the heist and expressed his admiration for the lavish toilet, known as America, describing it as “splendid.” Jones, along with two others, denies all charges related to the burglary and transferring criminal property.
The stolen toilet, made of 18-carat gold, was part of an exhibition by Italian artist Maurizio Cattelan. Testifying in court, Jones claimed he was at home in bed at the time of the theft, despite having previously visited the palace twice before the incident. Prosecution barrister Julian Christopher KC questioned Jones about taking time off work to visit the exhibition, to which Jones responded that he was simply interested in seeing it.
Photo evidence and witness testimonies exhibited in court shed light on Jones’ frequent visits to the palace and his documented interactions with the stolen toilet. Jurors were shown CCTV footage of Jones at the exhibition, further implicating him in the case. Despite admitting to using the gold toilet during his visit, Jones asserted that his visits were not part of a reconnaissance mission for the subsequent robbery.
It was revealed in court that a fourth man, James Sheen, has already pleaded guilty to being involved in the burglary. Jones claimed Sheen was a friend and employer, and that their communications around the time of the heist were related to work matters. The trial, which continues to unravel details surrounding the elaborate theft, has highlighted the extravagance of the stolen golden toilet, weighing 98kg and insured for £4.8m
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