By Emmanuel Dominic 
Middleman Sentenced Over £4.75m Gold Toilet Heist
Frederick Doe, also known as Frederick Sines, has been sentenced to 21 months in prison, suspended for two years, for his involvement in the 2019 theft of an 18-carat gold toilet valued at £4.8 million from Blenheim Palace in Oxfordshire, England. The toilet, titled “America” by Italian artist Maurizio Cattelan, was plumbed in at the time of the heist, leading to flooding and damage at the UNESCO World Heritage site. Doe was convicted of conspiring to transfer criminal property after attempting to help find a buyer for the stolen item. Judge Ian Pringle KC acknowledged Doe’s limited role, lack of personal gain, good character, and the adverse impact imprisonment would have on his family. However, he emphasized that Doe had been “targeted” due to his legitimate connections in the Hatton Garden jewelry district. Two others, Michael Jones and James Sheen, were more directly responsible and will be sentenced later. The stolen toilet has never been recovered, and three other suspects remain unidentified.
