Two men jailed for their roles in theft of £4.75m gold toilet from Blenheim Palace
Two men have been jailed for their roles in the theft of a £4.75m gold toilet from Blenheim Palace.
James Sheen, 40, and Michael Jones, 39, were part of the gang who planned and carried out the burglary of the Oxfordshire stately home.
Sheen, 40, a roofer who pleaded guilty to burglary, conspiracy and transferring criminal property, was sentenced at Oxford Crown Court to four years in prison.
Michael Jones, 39, who worked for Sheen and was convicted of burglary at trial, was sentenced to two years and three months.
The fully functioning 18-carat gold artwork, titled America, was stolen from Blenheim Palace in September 2019.
The heist took place hours after a glamorous launch party, and the distinctive toilet was split up or melted down and sold on soon after it was stolen and has never been recovered.
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