A man who played a minor role in the infamous theft of a solid gold toilet valued at £4.74 million ($6.4 million) has avoided a prison sentence, as a British judge ruled he had been misled by the actual thieves.
Frederick Doe, 37, also known by the alias Frederick Sines, was handed a two-year suspended sentence at Oxford Crown Court on Monday for assisting in the sale of the stolen 18-carat golden toilet. The lavish toilet was famously stolen in 2019 from Blenheim Palace — the birthplace of Winston Churchill and a UNESCO World Heritage site.
Judge Ian Pringle stated that Doe had been manipulated into helping, saying, “You foolishly agreed to assist.” CCTV footage from the day of the heist captured five individuals, indicating a well-planned and bold operation.
The luxurious toilet was not just any bathroom fixture it was a piece of provocative art titled “America” by Italian conceptual artist Maurizio Cattelan. Known for his satirical and ironic style, Cattelan also made headlines in 2024 for selling a banana duct-taped to a wall for $6.2 million.
The toilet weighed about 215 pounds (98 kilograms) and had been on exhibit at prestigious locations such as the Guggenheim Museum in New York. Interestingly, the museum once offered the same toilet to U.S. President Donald Trump after he requested a Van Gogh painting for the White House.
When the toilet was ripped from Blenheim Palace on September 14, 2019, it left behind significant damage to the historic building. Despite its high profile, the golden toilet has never been recovered and is believed to have been melted down and sold in parts.
Doe became involved when James Sheen, one of the masterminds behind the robbery, contacted him for help selling the gold. Doe, who had connections in London’s jewelry trade, replied via WhatsApp that he could “sell the gold in a second.” He later claimed he had no idea the gold was stolen and would not have gone through with it had he known.
Although convicted of conspiracy to transfer criminal property, Doe avoided jail time and was instead sentenced to perform 240 hours of unpaid community service.
Sheen had previously pleaded guilty to multiple charges including burglary and conspiracy. Another man, Michael Jones, 39, was also found guilty at the same trial. Both are due to be sentenced on June 13.
As he left the courtroom, Doe pumped his fist in relief, claiming he was simply “caught up in something I should not have.” The judge acknowledged his remorse and emphasized that Doe had acted without any expectation of personal gain.
“You agreed to assist Mr. Sheen without any hope or expectation of a reward for yourself,” the judge added. “You no doubt, for the last five-and-a-half years, regret doing that for James Sheen every day since your arrest.”
