Four in court over Blenheim Palace gold toilet theft

Four men have appeared in court charged over the theft of an 18-carat gold toilet from Blenheim Palace.

The £4.8m lavatory was stolen from the stately home in Oxfordshire early on 14 September 2019.

Michael Jones, 38, of Oxford, and James Sheen, 39, were charged with burglary.

Frederick Sines, 35, of Ascot, and Bora Guccuk, 39, from London, were accused of conspiring to transfer criminal property. They are all due to appear at Oxford Crown Court on 4 January.

Mr Sheen, from Wellingborough in Northamptonshire, is additionally charged with transferring criminal property and conspiracy to do the same.

All four defendants were granted unconditional bail when they appeared before Oxford Magistrates' Court.

Entitled America, the toilet was part of an exhibition by Italian conceptual artist Maurizio Cattelan and valued at $6m (£4.8m).

The loo could be used for its intended purpose, with a three-minute time limit to avoid queues. It had only been on show for two days when it disappeared.

As it was plumbed in at the time, its removal caused flooding and damage to the 18th Century stately home in Woodstock.

The palace is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and was the birthplace of Sir Winston Churchill.