On Wednesday jurors sitting at Oxford Crown Court heard from the written statements of witnesses to the break-in.
Staff at Blenheim Palace were awakened by breaking glass and a loud noise during the theft of a £4.75 million solid gold toilet sculpture on September 14, 2019. The five-minute raid involved thieves entering the palace, using a sledgehammer to break in, and removing the fully functioning artwork, which was part of an exhibition. Jurors at Oxford Crown Court heard that the toilet, created by Italian artist Maurizio Cattelan, was stolen and likely broken up afterward. Suspects include James Sheen, who has pleaded guilty to burglary, and others accused of aiding in the sale of the stolen gold. The incident left significant damage, with water pouring from the pipes where the toilet was installed.
