Three men deny charges over theft of gold toilet from Blenheim Palace

James Sheen, 39, and Michael Jones, 38, pleaded not guilty to burgling the 18-carat art installation in an overnight raid in 2019.

The fully functioning toilet, titled America, was created by Italian artist Maurizio Cattelan and housed in the Oxfordshire country house where Sir Winston Churchill was born (Blenheim Palace/PA) (PA Media)

Four men charged over the theft of a £4.8 million gold toilet from Blenheim Palace have appeared in court.

James Sheen, 39, from Wellingborough, Northamptonshire, and Michael Jones, 38, from Oxford, pleaded not guilty to burgling the 18-carat art installation in an overnight raid in the early hours of September 14 2019.

Sheen also denied a charge of transferring criminal property during the hearing at Oxford Crown Court on Friday.

Sheen and 35-year-old Frederick Sines, aka Frederick Doe, from Ascot, Berkshire, also denied a charge of conspiracy to transfer criminal property.

Bora Guccuk, 40, from west London, has been charged with one count of conspiracy to transfer criminal property but was not asked to enter a plea during the hearing.

The fully functioning toilet, titled America, was created by Italian artist Maurizio Cattelan and housed in the Oxfordshire country house where Sir Winston Churchill was born.

All four defendants were granted bail until their next court appearance.