A British man was convicted Tuesday for the theft of an 18-carat gold toilet, which was displayed as artwork at Winston Churchill’s birthplace.

The fully functional toilet, an artwork entitled “America” by Italian artist Maurizio Cattelan, was stolen from Blenheim Palace in southern England, the Churchill family’s ancestral home, a popular tourist destination, and a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Prosecutor Julian Christopher informed jurors at the trial’s outset last month that a group of five men used two stolen vehicles to breach locked wooden gates and enter the palace grounds before dawn on September 14, 2019.

They gained entry through a window, forced a wooden door open, detached the toilet from the wall, and departed after a five-minute stay inside the building.

The 98-kilogram toilet was insured for $6 million. Prosecutors believe it was likely broken down into smaller gold quantities for sale.

Michael Jones, 39, was found guilty of burglary at Oxford Crown Court after entering a not-guilty plea.

Fred Doe, 36, was convicted of conspiracy to convert or transfer criminal property (the gold), while Bora Guccuk, 41, was acquitted of the charge.

James Sheen, 39, had previously admitted guilt to burglary, conspiring to convert or transfer the gold, and converting or transferring the gold before the trial.

Shan Saunders of the Crown Prosecution Service stated, “This was a bold and meticulously planned and executed raid. However, the perpetrators were not careful enough and left behind a trail of evidence, including forensics, CCTV footage, and phone data.”

Saunders added, “While the gold was never recovered, we are confident that this prosecution has contributed to disrupting a broader crime and money laundering network.”

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