Latest news with #FrederickDoe
Ammon
21-05-2025
- Ammon
Man who tried to sell $6.4m gold toilet stolen from English country house is spared jail
Ammon News - A man who tried to help a burglar cash in from the theft of a golden toilet valued at 4.74 million pounds ($6.4 million) was spared jail on Monday after a British judge said he had been taken advantage of by the thieves. Frederick Doe, 37, also known as Frederick Sines, was given a suspended sentence at Oxford Crown Court for his role in helping to sell the 18-carat gold fully functioning toilet which was taken in 2019 from Blenheim Palace — the country mansion where British wartime leader Winston Churchill was born. 'Those responsible for this audacious heist, five individuals could be seen on CCTV, were clearly intent on disposing of their ill-gotten gains quickly,' Judge Ian Pringle told Doe. 'You foolishly agreed to assist.' The toilet was part of a satirical art installation, by Italian conceptual artist Maurizio Cattelan, whose work of a banana duct-taped to a wall was sold in 2024 for $6.2 million at auction in New York. The toilet weighed just over 215 pounds (98 kilograms). The value of the gold at the time was 2.8 million pounds and it was insured for 4.74 million pounds. AP
Time of India
20-05-2025
- Time of India
Golden toilet heist: UK man avoids jail for role in £4.8m Blenheim Palace theft
Frederick Doe, right, with his father outside Oxford Crown Court in Oxford, England (AP) A 37-year-old jeweller from Windsor, Berkshire, has been handed a 21-month prison sentence, suspended for two years,by a UK court, for his involvement in the 2019 theft of an 18-carat gold toilet valued at £4.8 million from Blenheim Palace, the birthplace of Winston Churchill. Frederick Doe, also known as Frederick Sines, was convicted of conspiracy to transfer criminal property after attempting to broker the sale of the stolen artwork, titled "America," by Italian artist Maurizio Cattelan. The theft occurred in September 2019, when a group of masked thieves armed with sledgehammers and crowbars broke into the palace, removed the fully functioning gold toilet, and fled the scene in stolen vehicles. The heist, which lasted just five minutes, caused significant damage to the historic property due to flooding from the plumbed-in installation. The toilet, weighing approximately 98 kilograms, was never recovered and neither was any gold, which is believed to have been melted down. Doe's role in the crime was as a foolish middleman attempting to facilitate the sale of the stolen gold, said Judge Ian Pringle. 'You had a limited function, you had no personal gain, you had no wider involvement and you were involved for a short period," he said, according to a report by AFP. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Glicemia alta? Pingue isso na água antes de dormir Saúde Melhor Idade Veja agora Undo He added that the perpetrators of the 'audacious heist" clearly aimed to offload the artwork without delay. He was found to have communicated with one of the burglars, James Sheen, about finding a buyer for the gold, referring to it using the code word "cars." Despite his limited involvement, Doe was convicted due to his attempts to convert the stolen property into cash. Judge Ian Pringle noted that while Doe's actions were "foolish," he had been exploited by the actual thieves and did not benefit financially from the crime. The judge also considered Doe's previously good character, family responsibilities including caring for a sick wife and four children and his charitable work running a boxing club for underprivileged youth. These factors contributed to the decision to suspend his sentence and order him to complete 240 hours of unpaid community service. Two other men, James Sheen and Michael Jones, who played more direct roles in the crime, are due to be sentenced next month. The 39-year-old Jones was convicted along with Doe who was found guilty of burglary. While Sheen, pleaded guilty to charges of burglary and money laundering. The theft has been widely discussed due to the high-profile nature of the case has drawn attention to the issue of art theft and the lengths to which individuals will go to profit from stolen cultural artifacts. Authorities continue to investigate the circumstances surrounding the theft and the fate of the stolen toilet.
Time of India
20-05-2025
- Time of India
Golden toilet heist: UK man avoids jail for role in £4.8m Blenheim Palace theftGolden toilet heist: UK man avoids jail for role in £4.8m Blenheim Palace theft
Frederick Doe, right, with his father outside Oxford Crown Court in Oxford, England (AP) A 37-year-old jeweller from Windsor, Berkshire, has been handed a 21-month prison sentence, suspended for two years,by a UK court, for his involvement in the 2019 theft of an 18-carat gold toilet valued at £4.8 million from Blenheim Palace, the birthplace of Winston Churchill. Frederick Doe, also known as Frederick Sines, was convicted of conspiracy to transfer criminal property after attempting to broker the sale of the stolen artwork, titled "America," by Italian artist Maurizio Cattelan. The theft occurred in September 2019, when a group of masked thieves armed with sledgehammers and crowbars broke into the palace, removed the fully functioning gold toilet, and fled the scene in stolen vehicles. The heist, which lasted just five minutes, caused significant damage to the historic property due to flooding from the plumbed-in installation. The toilet, weighing approximately 98 kilograms, was never recovered and neither was any gold, which is believed to have been melted down. Doe's role in the crime was as a foolish middleman attempting to facilitate the sale of the stolen gold, said Judge Ian Pringle. 'You had a limited function, you had no personal gain, you had no wider involvement and you were involved for a short period," he said, according to a report by AFP. He added that the perpetrators of the 'audacious heist" clearly aimed to offload the artwork without delay. He was found to have communicated with one of the burglars, James Sheen, about finding a buyer for the gold, referring to it using the code word "cars." Despite his limited involvement, Doe was convicted due to his attempts to convert the stolen property into cash. Judge Ian Pringle noted that while Doe's actions were "foolish," he had been exploited by the actual thieves and did not benefit financially from the crime. The judge also considered Doe's previously good character, family responsibilities including caring for a sick wife and four children and his charitable work running a boxing club for underprivileged youth. These factors contributed to the decision to suspend his sentence and order him to complete 240 hours of unpaid community service. Two other men, James Sheen and Michael Jones, who played more direct roles in the crime, are due to be sentenced next month. The 39-year-old Jones was convicted along with Doe who was found guilty of burglary. While Sheen, pleaded guilty to charges of burglary and money laundering. The theft has been widely discussed due to the high-profile nature of the case has drawn attention to the issue of art theft and the lengths to which individuals will go to profit from stolen cultural artifacts. Authorities continue to investigate the circumstances surrounding the theft and the fate of the stolen toilet.
The Sun
19-05-2025
- The Sun
Jeweller who tried to sell £4.8MILLION gold toilet stolen in stately home ram raid dodges jail due to his ‘good nature'
A MAN who tried to sell a £4.8million gold toilet stolen from a stately home dodged jail due to his 'good nature'. Jeweller Frederick Doe, 37, got caught up in the heist after a ram-raid on Blenheim Palace in 2019. 3 The audacious theft saw the loo — installed as an artwork called America — taken from Winston Churchill's Oxfordshire birthplace in just five minutes. Doe facilitated the attempted sale of the gold to dealer Bora Guccuk — who was cleared of knowing it was stolen — in London's Hatton Garden. The deal didn't go ahead and none of the gold has been recovered. Doe, also known as Fred Sines, admitted using the code word 'cars' for the gold bars but said he didn't know it was stolen. He celebrated with his family after avoiding jail. He told the trial at Oxford crown court: 'To me, gold is gold. I don't know good gold from bad.' Doe, who said he had not expected to profit from the sale, was found guilty in March of conspiracy to transfer criminal property. Judge Ian Pringle KC yesterday accepted that the businessman, of Windsor, Berks, was of previous good character. He sentenced him to 21 months' jail — suspended for two years — and 240 hours' unpaid work. The court heard that Doe was a dad of four whose wife is suffering from a severe but undiagnosed medical condition. He also runs a boxing club for underprivileged youngsters in his home town and was said to have had his good nature 'taken advantage of'. Two gang members will be sentenced for their parts in June. Guggenheim Museum gold toilet which was turned down by Donald Trump to be installed at Blenheim Palace 3
The Irish Sun
19-05-2025
- The Irish Sun
Jeweller who tried to sell £4.8MILLION gold toilet stolen in stately home ram raid dodges jail due to his ‘good nature'
A MAN who tried to sell a £4.8million gold toilet stolen from a stately home dodged jail due to his 'good nature'. Jeweller Frederick Doe, 37, got caught up in the heist after a 3 A £4.8million gold toilet — installed as an artwork called America — was stolen from a stately home Credit: PA 3 It was taken from Blenheim Palace, Winston Churchill's Oxfordshire birthplace, in just five minutes Credit: Getty The audacious theft saw the loo — installed as an artwork called America — Doe facilitated the attempted sale of the gold to dealer Bora Guccuk — who was cleared of knowing it was stolen — in London's Hatton Garden. The deal didn't go ahead and none of the gold has been recovered. Doe, also known as Fred Sines, admitted using the code word 'cars' for the gold bars but said he didn't know it was stolen. He celebrated with his family after avoiding jail. READ MORE UK NEWS He told the trial at Oxford crown court: 'To me, gold is gold. I don't know good gold from bad.' Doe, who said he had not expected to profit from the sale, was found guilty in March of conspiracy to transfer criminal property. Judge Ian Pringle KC yesterday accepted that the businessman, of Windsor, Berks, was of previous good character. He sentenced him to 21 months' jail — suspended for two years — and 240 hours' unpaid work. Most read in The Sun The court heard that Doe was a dad of four whose wife is suffering from a severe but undiagnosed medical condition. He also runs a boxing club for underprivileged youngsters in his home town and was said to have had his good nature 'taken advantage of'. Two gang members will be sentenced for their parts in June. Guggenheim Museum gold toilet which was turned down by Donald Trump to be installed at Blenheim Palace 3 A relieved Frederick Doe, right, celebrates with his father after dodging jail
