UK man sentenced for gold toilet theft

A 37-year-old man, Frederick Doe, was handed a suspended 21-month prison sentence on Monday for his involvement in the theft of a $6 million (£4.5 million) solid-gold toilet — a heist that stunned the art world and British public alike.

The toilet, a fully functional 18-carat artwork titled "America" by renowned Italian artist Maurizio Cattelan, was stolen in a daring five-minute raid at Blenheim Palace, the birthplace of Winston Churchill, in September 2019.

While Doe was not directly involved in the burglary itself, he was convicted in March of conspiracy to transfer criminal property, acting as a middleman in the attempt to sell off the toilet's gold, which prosecutors say was likely melted down and sold shortly after the theft.

In his sentencing remarks, Judge Ian Pringle described Doe as a "foolish" but not malicious participant in the audacious plot.

“You had a limited function, you had no personal gain, you had no wider involvement and you were involved for a short period,” the judge said.

Doe was also ordered to complete 240 hours of unpaid work, reflecting his comparatively minor role and lack of direct profit.

Read more: Smartphone use in toilet increases risk of 'piles': research

The elaborate artwork, weighing 98 kilograms (216 pounds) and containing 20 kilos of gold (valued at approximately £2.8 million), was stolen just hours after a glitzy exhibition opening. Thieves used sledgehammers to break it loose from the plumbing, causing significant damage to the historic palace.

The judge noted the "audacious" nature of the heist and said the group behind it had acted swiftly to dispose of the gold. The stolen artwork, unfortunately, has never been recovered.

According to court evidence, Sheen contacted Doe two days after the raid, asking if he could help sell the gold. Doe responded:

“I do know just the man you need to see.”

It was alleged that Sheen transported the gold to Birmingham’s Jewellery Quarter and sold it for £26,000 per kilogram, netting approximately £520,000.