Three men have been found guilty for taking part in stealing a £4.8million gold toilet from Winston Churchill's birthplace.
Michael Jones, 39, from Oxford, was convicted of burglary for his role in the "audacious" heist of Blenheim Palace in 2019.
Along with Jones, the jury found Fred Doe, 36, guilty of converting or transferring criminal property.
However, Bora Guccuk, 41, was found not guilty of such charges.
Meanwhile, James Sheen, 40, admitted his crimes earlier this year as he faced one count of burglary, one count of conspiring to convert or transfer criminal property and one count of converting or transferring criminal property.
The fully-functioning gold toilet, called America, was stolen during an "audacious" raid at the Oxfordshire estate in the early hours of September 14.
Thieves drove through locked wooden gates into the palace grounds before breaking in through a window to conduct a five-minute raid which culminated in palace security guards chasing the fleeing cars on foot.
Created by Italian artist Maurizio Cattelan, the 98kg artwork has never been recovered and is believed to have been broken up by sledgehammer-wielding thieves who smashed their way into the palace to steal the toilet, which was a star attraction in the exhibition.
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The gold alone was worth approximately £2.8million at the time of the theft.
James Sheen - the heist's kingpin - was previously handed a 17-year sentence after pleading guilty to burglary.
The thief allegedly took 20 kilos of gold from the toilet artwork to Birmingham Jewellery Quarter on September 27, 2019, selling it on for £26,000 a kilogram, the court heard.
Sheen, from Wellingborough in Northamptonshire, also pleaded guilty to an offence of transferring or converting gold in Birmingham.
Previously, Jones worked with Sheen as a roofer and builder, and conducted reconnaissance missions to the palace.
He had visited Blenheim Palace on two separate occasions, with the second visit occurring the day before the theft, booking slots to use the toilet and take photographs.
A selfie showing Jones alongside the lock and window later broken during the theft was used as evidence.
When questioned in court about using the gold toilet's "facilities", Jones admitted he did make use of it, describing it as "splendid".
Sheen’s DNA was found both on a sledgehammer which had been left at the scene as well as in the stolen Isuzu truck used in the heist.
Officers discovered hundreds of gold fragments on his tracksuit bottoms - and were later found to be the same gold used to make the toilet.
The guilty will be sentenced at a later date.
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Michael Jones, 39, from Oxford, was convicted of burglary for his role in the "audacious" heist of Blenheim Palace in 2019.
Along with Jones, the jury found Fred Doe, 36, guilty of converting or transferring criminal property.
However, Bora Guccuk, 41, was found not guilty of such charges.
Meanwhile, James Sheen, 40, admitted his crimes earlier this year as he faced one count of burglary, one count of conspiring to convert or transfer criminal property and one count of converting or transferring criminal property.
The fully-functioning gold toilet, called America, was stolen during an "audacious" raid at the Oxfordshire estate in the early hours of September 14.
Thieves drove through locked wooden gates into the palace grounds before breaking in through a window to conduct a five-minute raid which culminated in palace security guards chasing the fleeing cars on foot.
Created by Italian artist Maurizio Cattelan, the 98kg artwork has never been recovered and is believed to have been broken up by sledgehammer-wielding thieves who smashed their way into the palace to steal the toilet, which was a star attraction in the exhibition.
LATEST DEVELOPMENTS:
- 'Not a bog standard burglary!' Judge met with howls of laughter as £5million golden toilet heist reaches court
- Golden toilet worth £2.8m stolen from palace 'in just five minutes' in 'audacious raid'
- Four men charged after theft of £4.8 MILLION golden toilet at Blenheim Palace
The gold alone was worth approximately £2.8million at the time of the theft.
James Sheen - the heist's kingpin - was previously handed a 17-year sentence after pleading guilty to burglary.
The thief allegedly took 20 kilos of gold from the toilet artwork to Birmingham Jewellery Quarter on September 27, 2019, selling it on for £26,000 a kilogram, the court heard.
Sheen, from Wellingborough in Northamptonshire, also pleaded guilty to an offence of transferring or converting gold in Birmingham.
Previously, Jones worked with Sheen as a roofer and builder, and conducted reconnaissance missions to the palace.
He had visited Blenheim Palace on two separate occasions, with the second visit occurring the day before the theft, booking slots to use the toilet and take photographs.
A selfie showing Jones alongside the lock and window later broken during the theft was used as evidence.
When questioned in court about using the gold toilet's "facilities", Jones admitted he did make use of it, describing it as "splendid".
Sheen’s DNA was found both on a sledgehammer which had been left at the scene as well as in the stolen Isuzu truck used in the heist.
Officers discovered hundreds of gold fragments on his tracksuit bottoms - and were later found to be the same gold used to make the toilet.
The guilty will be sentenced at a later date.
Find Out More...