Court hears theft-accused used gold toilet before heist

Michael Jones, along with co-defendants Frederick Doe and Bora Guccuk, is on trial for the theft of an 18-carat gold toilet, valued at £4.8 million, from Blenheim Palace in September 2019. The toilet, an artwork by Maurizio Cattelan, was stolen during a burglary where the thieves used stolen vehicles to break into the palace. Jones has pleaded not guilty to burglary, claiming he was at home when the theft occurred, despite evidence suggesting he visited the palace days prior to the heist. His co-defendant James Sheen has already pleaded guilty to related charges. Prosecutors allege that Jones's visits to the palace were reconnaissance trips, a claim he denies, insisting he was there for leisure to view the exhibition. The trial includes discussions of Jones's communications with Sheen around the time of the theft, which he claims were related to work.