Latest news with #OxfordCrownCourt
BBC News
22-07-2025
- BBC News
Man charged with manslaughter following assault in Oxford
A 45-year-old man has been charged with manslaughter after the death of another man in Saxon, of no fixed address, was arrested following reports a man in his 60s had been punched in St Aldate's Street on Saturday Valley Police later said the victim had died of his injuries in hospital on Saxon appeared at Oxford Magistrates' Court on Tuesday where he was remanded to appear at Oxford Crown Court on 22 August. You can follow BBC Oxfordshire on Facebook, X, or Instagram.
Yahoo
06-07-2025
- Yahoo
Police praise victims as depraved Edinburgh man put behind bars for 22 years
A vile Edinburgh man has been jailed for a number of depraved attacks on young children in England. Roderick Bryce-Hagain, of the city's Milton Road West, was jailed for 22 years following a three-week trial at Oxford Crown Court. The 52-year-old, also known as Roderick Bryce-Stafford, sexually abused four boys in Oxfordshire and Berkshire over several years. READ MORE: Ryanair flight 'utter chaos' as passengers 'jump off wing' with 18 people injured READ MORE: Edinburgh man was 'spending £400 a month on takeaways' before going on Mounjaro The charges included three counts of rape, 11 sexual assaults and four counts of sexual activity with a child. The judge called Bryce-Hagain a "dangerous offender" as he was unanimously found guilty by a jury. He was also found guilty of engaging in sexual activity in the presence of a child, causing a child to engage in sexual activity and attempted rape. Investigating officer Detective Constable Nicola Fullerton, of the Child Abuse Investigation Unit, said: 'I would like to thank the victims for the strength and courage they have shown throughout this long investigation. 'We would encourage sexual offence victims to come forward to police, no matter how long ago offences occurred. 'We will listen and do everything possible to bring offenders like Roderick Bryce-Hagain to justice.' Join Edinburgh Live's Whatsapp Community here and get the latest news sent straight to your messages.
RNZ News
14-06-2025
- RNZ News
Two men jailed for stealing $10.7 million golden toilet from Churchill's birthplace
The fully functional 'America' toilet made from 18-karat gold opened in the Guggenheim Museum in the United States on 16 September 2016. Photo: AFP Two men have been jailed for stealing an 18-carat golden toilet that had been on display as an artwork in an exhibition at Winston Churchill's birthplace. The fully functioning toilet, a work titled 'America' by Italian artist Maurizio Cattelan, was stolen from the Churchill family seat of Blenheim Palace in southern England, a major tourist attraction and UNESCO World Heritage Site. Prosecutor Julian Christopher told jurors at the start of the trial at Oxford Crown Court in February that a group of five men had driven two stolen vehicles through locked wooden gates into the palace grounds before dawn on 14 September 2019 . They broke in through a window, smashed down a wooden door, ripped the toilet from the wall and left after five minutes in the building. The toilet, weighing 98kg was insured for £4.75 million (NZ$10.7 million). Prosecutors say it was probably divided into smaller amounts of gold to sell it off. None of the gold has ever been recovered. James Sheen, 40, had pleaded guilty before trial to burglary, conspiring to convert or transfer the gold and converting or transferring the gold. Michael Jones, 39, was found guilty of burglary by a jury, having pleaded not guilty. Judge Ian Pringle said the pair had played important roles in the "bold and brazen heist", though the judge said he could not be sure that Jones was present during the burglary. Sheen was sentenced to four years in jail, with the sentence to begin at the end of a separate jail term of nearly 20 years he is currently serving for a series of thefts. Jones was sentenced to 27 months in prison. - Reuters
North Wales Chronicle
13-06-2025
- North Wales Chronicle
Pair jailed for burglary of £4.75m golden toilet from Blenheim Palace
A gang of thieves smashed their way in to the palace and ripped out the fully-functioning 18-carat gold toilet during a raid in 2019. James Sheen, 40, and Michael Jones, 39, were part of the gang who planned and carried out the burglary of the Oxfordshire stately home. The toilet was created by Italian artist Maurizio Cattelan and was a star attraction in an exhibition at Blenheim Palace – the house where Sir Winston Churchill was born. 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. The toilet was stolen during a five-minute raid by sledgehammer-wielding thieves, Oxford Crown Court heard. They drove through locked wooden gates into the grounds of the palace in two stolen vehicles before breaking in through a window. Entitled America, the toilet weighed approximately 98 kilograms, was insured for six million US dollars (£4.75 million) and was made from gold which was itself worth about £2.8 million. Sheen, of Wellingborough, Northamptonshire had previously admitted burglary, conspiracy to transfer criminal property and one count of transferring criminal property. Jones, of Oxford, was found guilty of burglary following a trial. Passing sentence, Judge Ian Pringle KC said: 'This bold and brazen heist took no more than five-and-a-half minutes to complete. 'America has never been seen again.' Sheen was jailed for four years and his sentence will run consecutively to the 19 years and four-month sentence he is currently serving for attacks on cash machines, a museum burglary and fraud. 'You were part of the gang of five men who smashed their way into Blenheim Palace that night and stole the hugely valuable golden toilet,' the judge said. 'You were almost certainly the figure that carried the sledgehammer on which your DNA was found and which was used to sever the functioning toilet from its connecting pipes. 'I say straight away I have no doubt at all that the sentence I pass must be consecutive to the sentence you are currently serving. 'Not to do so would be to send out a message that you did this without any penalty at all.' Judge Pringle jailed Jones for 27 months after concluding he could not be sure he was part of the gang that carried out the burglary. 'You paid visits on two occasions to Blenheim Palace in the days leading up to the burglary,' he said. 'That your role was to carry out a reconnaissance of the museum, to know exactly where the golden toilet was situated and to work out the quickest route in and out of the palace, I have absolutely no doubt whatsoever. 'Although you have no witnesses to where you were on the night in question, I cannot be sure that you were part of the group of burglars who broke into the palace that night.' Michael Neofytou, representing Sheen, said due to his current prison term he was not due for release for another seven years. 'If released in 2032 he will have served over half his life in prison,' he said. 'The offence was relatively unsophisticated, and entry gained by smashing a window with a sledgehammer, which was left at the scene with his DNA on. 'In reality, he did nothing to make the primary offending more difficult to detect. He left a great deal of evidence that led to his door in October 2019.' Jeffrey Israel, defending Jones, said he should be sentenced on the basis he was not part of the gang who took part in the burglary. 'His role was limited to the two reconnaissance visits only,' he said. 'There is no suggestion he benefitted materially or personally from the burglary.' During his trial, Jones told jurors he 'took advantage of' the gold toilet's 'facilities' while at the country house the day before it was taken. Asked what it was like, Jones said: 'Splendid.' He worked as a roofer and builder for Sheen from about 2018 and was effectively his 'right-hand man'. Other members of the gang have already been sentenced for their roles in the theft. 'Foolish' middleman Frederick Doe, 37, of Windsor, Berkshire, received a suspended prison sentence after being found guilty of helping Sheen sell some of the gold. Jewellery shop owner Bora Guccuk, 41, from west London, was acquitted of conspiracy to transfer criminal property. Detective Superintendent Bruce Riddell, who led the investigation for Thames Valley Police, said: 'This was an extremely significant incident where a large amount of gold was stolen and then sold on for profit. 'It is my view that Sheen was the driving force behind the burglary, with his motive to make money by any means necessary. 'Jones also played a key part in the burglary, as he carried out two recces at Blenheim Palace in the days leading up to the burglary, and it is our belief that he also was there on the night. 'We are aware that in this case there are others who were involved who have not yet been brought to justice as we do not have sufficient evidence to secure further charges. 'I am aware that over the passage of time allegiances may change and it might be that someone out there has that one piece of evidence that may assist us in bring others to justice. 'If you do have information then you can contact us on 101 or you can provide information 100% anonymously through the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.'
South Wales Guardian
13-06-2025
- South Wales Guardian
Pair jailed for burglary of £4.75m golden toilet from Blenheim Palace
A gang of thieves smashed their way in to the palace and ripped out the fully-functioning 18-carat gold toilet during a raid in 2019. James Sheen, 40, and Michael Jones, 39, were part of the gang who planned and carried out the burglary of the Oxfordshire stately home. The toilet was created by Italian artist Maurizio Cattelan and was a star attraction in an exhibition at Blenheim Palace – the house where Sir Winston Churchill was born. 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. The toilet was stolen during a five-minute raid by sledgehammer-wielding thieves, Oxford Crown Court heard. They drove through locked wooden gates into the grounds of the palace in two stolen vehicles before breaking in through a window. Entitled America, the toilet weighed approximately 98 kilograms, was insured for six million US dollars (£4.75 million) and was made from gold which was itself worth about £2.8 million. Sheen, of Wellingborough, Northamptonshire had previously admitted burglary, conspiracy to transfer criminal property and one count of transferring criminal property. Jones, of Oxford, was found guilty of burglary following a trial. Passing sentence, Judge Ian Pringle KC said: 'This bold and brazen heist took no more than five-and-a-half minutes to complete. 'America has never been seen again.' Sheen was jailed for four years and his sentence will run consecutively to the 19 years and four-month sentence he is currently serving for attacks on cash machines, a museum burglary and fraud. 'You were part of the gang of five men who smashed their way into Blenheim Palace that night and stole the hugely valuable golden toilet,' the judge said. 'You were almost certainly the figure that carried the sledgehammer on which your DNA was found and which was used to sever the functioning toilet from its connecting pipes. 'I say straight away I have no doubt at all that the sentence I pass must be consecutive to the sentence you are currently serving. 'Not to do so would be to send out a message that you did this without any penalty at all.' Judge Pringle jailed Jones for 27 months after concluding he could not be sure he was part of the gang that carried out the burglary. 'You paid visits on two occasions to Blenheim Palace in the days leading up to the burglary,' he said. 'That your role was to carry out a reconnaissance of the museum, to know exactly where the golden toilet was situated and to work out the quickest route in and out of the palace, I have absolutely no doubt whatsoever. 'Although you have no witnesses to where you were on the night in question, I cannot be sure that you were part of the group of burglars who broke into the palace that night.' Michael Neofytou, representing Sheen, said due to his current prison term he was not due for release for another seven years. 'If released in 2032 he will have served over half his life in prison,' he said. 'The offence was relatively unsophisticated, and entry gained by smashing a window with a sledgehammer, which was left at the scene with his DNA on. 'In reality, he did nothing to make the primary offending more difficult to detect. He left a great deal of evidence that led to his door in October 2019.' Jeffrey Israel, defending Jones, said he should be sentenced on the basis he was not part of the gang who took part in the burglary. 'His role was limited to the two reconnaissance visits only,' he said. 'There is no suggestion he benefitted materially or personally from the burglary.' During his trial, Jones told jurors he 'took advantage of' the gold toilet's 'facilities' while at the country house the day before it was taken. Asked what it was like, Jones said: 'Splendid.' He worked as a roofer and builder for Sheen from about 2018 and was effectively his 'right-hand man'. Other members of the gang have already been sentenced for their roles in the theft. 'Foolish' middleman Frederick Doe, 37, of Windsor, Berkshire, received a suspended prison sentence after being found guilty of helping Sheen sell some of the gold. Jewellery shop owner Bora Guccuk, 41, from west London, was acquitted of conspiracy to transfer criminal property. Detective Superintendent Bruce Riddell, who led the investigation for Thames Valley Police, said: 'This was an extremely significant incident where a large amount of gold was stolen and then sold on for profit. 'It is my view that Sheen was the driving force behind the burglary, with his motive to make money by any means necessary. 'Jones also played a key part in the burglary, as he carried out two recces at Blenheim Palace in the days leading up to the burglary, and it is our belief that he also was there on the night. 'We are aware that in this case there are others who were involved who have not yet been brought to justice as we do not have sufficient evidence to secure further charges. 'I am aware that over the passage of time allegiances may change and it might be that someone out there has that one piece of evidence that may assist us in bring others to justice. 'If you do have information then you can contact us on 101 or you can provide information 100% anonymously through the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.'
