The so-called “silly” middleman in the theft of a £4.8 million gold toilet from an art exhibition at Blenheim Palace received a suspended sentence at Oxford Crown Court.
Frederick Daw, 37, also known as Frederick Sings from Windsor, was found guilty of conspiring to transfer criminal property. His role involved offering to help find a buyer for the stolen gold.
The 18-carat toilet, which weighs around 98 kg, was stolen in September 2019. It was part of an art exhibition but was later dismantled and disposed of. As of now, none of the stolen money has been recovered.
Two other individuals—Michael Jones, who has been found guilty of conspiracy to commit robbery, and James Sheen, who previously confessed to stealing the toilet—are set to be sentenced next month at the same court.
This artwork, created by Italian artist Maurizio Cattelan, had been exhibited in New York City and was actually plumbed in at the time of the heist, resulting in flooding that caused damage to the historic 18th-century home, the birthplace of Winston Churchill and a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Cattelan’s piece, titled “America,” was meant to critique the excessive nature of the contemporary art market while reflecting on the American dream of equal opportunity.
Judge Ian Pringle KC sentenced Daw to 21 months in prison, suspended for two years, along with 240 hours of community service. He mentioned that Daw had a solid character prior to this incident and acknowledged that his co-conspirators likely exploited his good nature.
The judge noted, during the hearing, that there was no evidence suggesting that Daw was aware of stolen money being involved. He remarked, “There’s no way you could have anticipated this would become such a problem.”
Pringle also highlighted that Daw was “targeted” by legitimate contacts in the Hatton Garden jewelry district, emphasizing that he was more of a middleman than a mastermind.
Pringle dismissed a proposal from Prosecutor Julian Christopher KC that painted Daw as a key figure in the plot, stating it was clear he was simply a pawn used by others who knew of his connections in Hatton Garden due to his knowledge of watches.
In responding to the court’s statements, Daw admitted, “My good nature has been taken advantage of. I’ve found myself in a situation I never wanted to be in. All I want now is to go home and be with my family.”
Outside the court, he was surrounded by friends who expressed their support and claimed, “He’s a nice guy,” mentioning plans to go for drinks afterward to celebrate.
Although five men were caught on CCTV during the heist, only Sheen and Jones have been apprehended so far.
