This is the dramatic moment that a gang of burglars came to the site of Blenheim Palace in stolen cars before performing a golden toilet of £ 4.8 million.
CCTV filmed the 'daring' invasion shortly before 5 hours on September 14, 2019, in which a gang of five men are seen who use Voorhammers to break through a window.
A few seconds earlier, a stolen Isuzu truck and VW Polo with the thieves were struck by wooden gates on the circumference of the site.
The gang managed to remove the toilet – which was completely aware – and made their escape in the building after just five minutes. The toilet has never been restored.
Three men are on trial at Oxford Crown Court for involvement in a conspiracy to steal the 18 -carat golden toilet – to sell a work of art entitled 'America' – and the gold.
The toilet functioned completely, so that visitors could use it as part of an exhibition with his maker Maurizio Cattelan, who was open only a day earlier. It weighed 98 kg and was appreciated at £ 4.8 million.
Michael Jones, 39, from Oxford, is accused of burglary, while Frederick Doe, 36, from Windsor, and Bora Guccuk, 41, from London, are accused of converting or transferring criminal property. They deny the charges.
Another alleged accomplice – James Sheen, 40, from Wellingborough in Northhamptonshire – argued guilty of burglary during an earlier hearing.
Jury members have shown images of the moment that a gang of burglars in the site of Blenheim Palace threw stolen cars – moments before he stealed a golden toilet of £ 4.8 million
CCTV filmed the 'daring' invasion shortly before 5 hours on September 14, 2019, in which a gang of five men are seen who are used to break through a window
A stolen Isuzu truck and VW Polo that wore the thieves were beaten by wooden gates on the circumference of the ground before an object was seen.
Extraordinary CCTV of the raid showed that the gang arrived in two stolen cars at 4.49 hours, because they are seen on the main entrance of Blenheim Palace in Woodstock, Oxfordshire.
The thieves were found to leave the vehicles with their caps. A complicit handed three of the Raiders Voorhamers and Kraai and they were seen in the direction of a window near where the toilet was housed.
A driver stayed in both cars, which means that the plot was involved at least five people.
Floodlights then burst into life in the courtyard after they were activated by guards who had seen what unfolded, which meant that some of the CCTV images were recorded in full color.
At 4.53 am three people came from the collapsed window and saw a large item rolling to the car before they pick it up and place it in the rear of the vehicle.
In individual images one of the individuals is seen who seems to be the golden toilet seat.
The gang then closed the car boot and both vehicles race away.
While the cars escape, the staff of Blenheim Palace can be seen on the CCTV that runs out of the building and tries to hunt.
The gang managed to remove the toilet – which was completely shot – and made up for their escape after just five minutes in the building
Sight lights burst into the courtyard after they were activated by guards who saw what unfolded, which meant
Images showed that one of the individuals is seen who seems to wear the golden toilet seat
The gang closed the car residents before both vehicles left the country house
While the cars escape, the staff of Blenheim Palace ran out of the building and tried to chase the jury of Oxford Crown Court
A fully functioning fast -gold toilet, made by artist Maurizio Cattelan, can be seen in Blenheim Palace on September 12, 2019
Michael Jones (left) and Borra Guccuk (right) are depicted at the arrival at Oxford Crown Court on February 25, 2025
Fred Does his face when he arrives outside Oxford Crown Court on Tuesday
Public Prosecutor Julian Christopher KC previously described the brutal burglary when he opened the case on Monday.
He said to the court: “The burglars clearly knew where to go. They went to the wooden door of the toilet, they had for hammers with them.
“They removed the toilet, which was completely nearby, removed it, causing the water to flow from the pipes and drove away. All in all, they only spent five minutes in the building. '
The court was also previously shown images of a trip that Jones and his wife Carly made to Blenheim Palace on September 7, who was five days before an exhibition started with the toilet.
Officers of Justice claim that this was an 'exploration' with which Jones could pronounce the building for the burglary gang to find an access point to steal the toilet.
Jones, who wore shorts and a sweatshirt, was seen around the big rooms with his hands behind his back, while his wife occasionally stopped to take pictures.
A few hours after Jones's visit to Blenheim Palace, Sheen – who admitted his role in the burglary – sent him WhatsApp – messages with 'needed updated' and 'as quickly as possible', the court heard.
At that time there were two attempts to call Jones before sending a ballot on WhatsApp who said: 'Many big men's size, in my case Bruv, they want to know what's going on.
Jury members of the Oxford Crown Court have been shown that images were taken by defendant Michael Jones during earlier 'Reconnaissance' visits to Blenheim Palace shortly before the raid
Jones, with shorts and a sweatshirt, was seen around the big rooms with his hands behind his back clamped
Prosecutors claim that Jones has carried out 'exploration' so that he can exercise the building for the burglary gang to find a point of entry to steal the toilet
The court was previously shown images of a journey that Jones and his wife, Carly, made to Blenheim Palace on September 7, who was there five days before an exhibition started there,
Jones, who wore shorts and a sweatshirt, was seen to make the big rooms around with his hands behind his back, while his wife occasionally stopped to take pictures
Jury members received images of visits to Blenheim Palace on September 7 and September 13 in 2019 – The Golden Toilet was stolen on September 14
A poster was depicted Advertising upcoming events in Blenheim Palace, including the exhibition with work by Maurizio Cattelan, maker of the Golden Toilet
Fred Doe's father is seen at the start of his son's process at Oxford Crown Court
The toilet, designed as part of an exhibition by the Italian artist Maurizio Cattelan, disappeared from the stately house on September 14, 2019
“It's a huge task. I have to know what's going on, the boys are waiting for my phone call. It is half past three in the day, I have to know what's going on. '
Jones then returned to Blenheim Palace to visit the exhibition on 13 September – just a few hours before the invasion that took place the next morning shortly before 5 am.
Photos were found on his phone during his visit, including from the toilet and the lock on the toilet door, the court heard.
After his visit he had a series of phone calls with Sheen, the court heard. The process continues.
