Man pleads guilty to golden toilet palace theft

A man has pleaded guilty to the theft of an 18-carat gold toilet from Blenheim Palace.

James "Jimmy" Sheen, 39, from Wellingborough in Northamptonshire, pleaded guilty to burglary, transferring criminal property and conspiracy to do the same.

The £4.8m toilet was stolen from the Oxfordshire stately home in 2019 while it was featured in an art exhibition.

Sheen appeared at Oxford Crown Court via video link from HMP Five Wells.

He is already serving a 17-year sentence for a string of thefts, including from cash points.

Sheen also stole £400,000 worth of tractors and high-value trophies from the National Horse Racing Museum in Newmarket.

As it was plumbed in at the time, the heist caused flooding and damage to the 18th Century palace in Woodstock.

Three other men have pleaded not guilty to charges related to the theft.

Michael Jones, 38, of Oxford, is accused of burglary.

Frederick Sines, 35, of Ascot, and Bora Guccuk, 40, of London, are both accused of conspiring to transfer criminal property.

The men are due to go on trial in February.

Follow BBC South on Facebook, X, or Instagram. Send your story ideas to south.newsonline@bbc.co.uk or via WhatsApp on 0808 100 2240.