Potty gang convicted: Thieves behind golden toilet heist found guilty
A thief who stole a golden toilet from Blenheim Palace - the country mansion where Winston Churchill was born - has been convicted along with an accomplice who helped cash in on the spoils of the 18-carat work of art insured for nearly £5 million (€5.9m).
Michael Jones, 39, was found guilty of burglary in Oxford Crown Court. He had used the fully functioning one-of-a-kind latrine - a satirical work titled 'America' by Italian conceptual artist Maurizio Cattelan - as he did reconnaissance at Blenheim Palace the day before the theft, prosecutors said. He described the experience as 'splendid.'
He returned before dawn on 14 September 2019, with at least two other men armed with sledgehammers and crowbars. They smashed a window and pried the toilet from its plumbing within five minutes, leaving a damaging flood in their wake as they escaped in stolen vehicles.
'This was an audacious raid which had been carefully planned and executed," prosecutor Shan Saunders said. 'But those responsible were not careful enough, leaving a trail of evidence in the form of forensics, CCTV footage and phone data."
Cattelan's artwork poked fun at excessive wealth and weighed just over 98kg. The value of the gold at the time was £2.8 million (€3.3m).
The piece had previously been on display at The Guggenheim Museum in New York. The museum had offered the work to Donald Trump during his first term in office after he had asked to borrow a Van Gogh painting.
The gold toilet has never been recovered but is believed to have been cut up and sold.
The theft was planned by James Sheen, 40, who previously pleaded guilty to burglary, conspiracy and transferring criminal property.
Sheen then worked to broker a deal with Fred Doe to cash in on the haul, prosecutors said. In a series of text messages, Sheen referred to the loot as a 'car,' but he was actually talking about the gold.
'I'll link up with ya, I got something right up your path,' Sheen told Doe in one message.
'I can sell that car for you in two seconds ... so come and see me tomorrow,' Doe said in a reply.
Doe, 36, also known as Frederick Sines, was convicted of conspiracy to transfer criminal property.
A fourth man charged in the conspiracy, Bora Guccuk, 41, was acquitted by jurors.
If you haven't heard of the Nuits de Fourvière festival, you're missing out on one of Europe's richest and most exciting festivals.
Located on the hill of Fourvière, the festival takes place every summer among the ruins of a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Théâtre Antique de Fourvière.
It's hands down one of our favourite European festivals, with its stunning location matching equally impressive line-ups. As if that wasn't enough, the originality of this festival lies in its pluridisciplinary credentials, offering music, ballet, dance and theatre over the course of two months.
This year's edition, running from 2 June to 26 July, is no exception – with the likes of Kraftwerk, The Kills, Kool & The Gang, Chilly Gonzales and The Libertines heading to Fourvière alongside various circus, magic and theatre acts.
The tickets go on sale today (Wednesday 19 at 12pm), so here's our handpicked, chronological guide to the shows you shouldn't miss out on this year. The fact that none of the already mentioned names have made our shortlist should indicate quite how good 2025's line-up is...
When? 9 June
Buoyed by the success of their fourth LP, 'Romance', which was one of our favourite albums of 2024, the Dublin quintet is heading to Lyon in June. The Irish post-punkers have confirmed that they are one of the most consistently exciting modern bands around. Every one of their releases has marked leaps and bounds in terms of songwriting and sound evolution, and 'Romance' feels like a consecration. Missing the opportunity to see Grian Chatten & Co at the height of their powers isn't an option.
When? 12 June
Formed in 2020, the circus collective Cirque Queer has made a name for itself by revisiting big top and freak show traditions and bundling it up in an extravagant spectacle that can be described as joyfully exuberant. The show, which doesn't take place in the Grand Théâtre but under a big top on the stunning Place de la Croix-Rousse, promises to be a low-key highlight of this year's edition. Don't miss out.
When? 13 June
French singer-songwriter Clara Luciani is back at the Nuits de Fourvière and this year's line-up is stronger for it. Having made a name for herself as one of the vocalists in the rock outfit La Femme (more on them in a bit), her albums 'Sainte-Victoire' (2018) and 'Cœur' (2021) elevated her as one of French pop's most promising voices. That was confirmed with last year's 'Mon Sang', which boasts emotional ballads and bubbly hooks, making Luciani a must-see at this vibrant moment in her career.
When? 17-18 June
Are you familiar with 'Grace', the only studio album by the late Jeff Buckley? If not, renowned French choreographer Benjamin Millepied has just the show for you. If so and you're more than aware of the much-missed gifted songwriter, renowned French choreographer Benjamin Millepied has just the show for you. He marries music and dance to celebrate the work of the 90s icon, creating what promises to be a spellbinding show through a series of dance tableaux.
When? 29 June
Talk about a big get for Les Nuits de Fourvière... Cypress Hill need no introduction at this point, and you just know their show is going to be an unmissable ruckus. Just imagine seeing these legends of West Coast hip-hop in a huge Roman amphitheatre with the crowd singing along to hits like 'Insane in the Brain', 'Superstar' and 'When the Shit Goes Down'... Sign us up now.
When? 30 June
Last year marked not only 30 years since Portishead's debut 'Dummy' but also the release of Beth Gibbons' debut solo album, 'Lives Outgrown'. It's a sublime collection of songs which ponder life and grief, all with breathtaking sensuality and a poignant delivery only Gibbons could have delivered. We can't wait to hear how it sounds live. Plus, she's bringing lo-fi rocker Bill Callahan along for the ride as her opener. Considering his most recent albums 'YTILAER' and 'Resuscitate!' are already modern classics, this double-bill promises a moody and intoxicating evening.
When? 3 July
Celebrated French psychedelic punk band La Femme are known for their lively shows, and considering their most recent album 'Rock Machine' recaptures the energy of their 2013 debut 'Psycho Tropical Berlin', anyone attending will be in for a treat. As if that wasn't enough, French singer Thomas de Pourquery – who is known for collaborating with Oxmo Puccino and Metronomy - will open the evening, backed with a what the Fourvière programme describes as a 'large, inclusive and generous choir'. Colour us intrigued.
When? 5 July
American hip-hop pioneers De La Soul join forces with Franco-Malian rapper Oxmo Puccino and charismatic slam up-and-comer George Ka for an electric night simply titled 'H.I.P.H.O.P.' Let's not pretend this isn't the first thing we're booking once we get access to tickets on Wednesday.
When? 11 July
German-born British composer and pianist Max Richter is one of the most important musicians of our time. You've heard his music in concert halls, art installations, as well as on the big screen (Waltz With Bashir, Ad Astra) and smaller ones (The Leftovers, Black Mirror), and this year, the post-minimalist and neoclassical composer brings his enrapturing compositions to Lyon. Joined by a string quintet, he'll be playing extracts from his gorgeous 2024 album 'In A Landscape', as well as 2004's 'The Blue Notebooks', which we ranked the top European album of the 21st century. 'Unmissable' is putting it mildly.
When? 16 July
How about some theatre as a palate-cleanser to all the musical goodness? The four cheeky scamps of the Compagnie Bravache, armed with plastic helmets and some fake blood, have set themselves quite the challenge: performing the whole of "The Iliad" in 50 minutes. Yep, that's less than an hour to do justice to Achilles, Ulysses, Helen and Paris. Epic? Yes. Demanding? Absolutely. Bound to be a giggle? Without a doubt.
Tickets for this year's festival go on sale on Wednesday 19 March and your can check out the whole programme here.
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