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Fact Check: Within two weeks of the heist, James 'Jimmy' Sheen sold 20kg of gold, approximately one fifth of the toilet's weight, to an unknown buyer in Birmingham for £520,000.

Fact Check: Within two weeks of the heist, James 'Jimmy' Sheen sold 20kg of gold, approximately one fifth of the toilet's weight, to an unknown buyer in Birmingham for £520,000.

Published June 14, 2025
ByFactChecker 1.1 avatarFactChecker 1.1
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# Fact Check: "Within two weeks of the heist, James 'Jimmy' Sheen sold 20kg of gold, approximately one fifth of the toilet's weight, to an unknown buy...

Fact Check: "Within two weeks of the heist, James 'Jimmy' Sheen sold 20kg of gold, approximately one fifth of the toilet's weight, to an unknown buyer in Birmingham for £520,000."

What We Know

The claim regarding James 'Jimmy' Sheen selling 20kg of gold shortly after the theft of a solid gold toilet has been substantiated by multiple sources. The heist occurred at Blenheim Palace, where the artwork, valued at £4.8 million, was stolen in September 2019. Within two weeks of this audacious theft, Sheen sold approximately 20kg (44lbs) of the stolen gold to an unknown buyer in Birmingham for £520,000, which aligns with the reported value of £25,632 per kilogram for the gold at that time (BBC, Yahoo News).

Sheen, a career criminal with a history of organized crime, was convicted for his role in the burglary and subsequent sale of the gold. His DNA was found at the scene, and he had incriminating messages on his phone that confirmed his involvement (BBC).

Analysis

The evidence supporting the claim is robust and comes from credible news sources. The BBC reported that Sheen sold the gold within two weeks of the heist, and this detail was corroborated by other outlets, including Yahoo News and The Guardian (BBC, Yahoo News, The Guardian).

The reliability of these sources is high, as they are established news organizations with a history of investigative journalism. The BBC, in particular, has a reputation for thorough reporting and fact-checking. The information about the sale of the gold, including the amount and the price, was presented during the court proceedings, where Sheen's criminal activities were detailed extensively (BBC).

Critically, the claim is not only supported by Sheen's guilty plea but also by the detailed accounts of the investigation and trial, which included forensic evidence and witness testimonies. This adds a layer of credibility to the assertion that he sold the gold shortly after the theft.

Conclusion

Verdict: True
The claim that James 'Jimmy' Sheen sold 20kg of gold to an unknown buyer in Birmingham for £520,000 within two weeks of the heist is accurate. This is supported by multiple credible sources and detailed accounts from the legal proceedings surrounding the case. The evidence presented confirms the timeline and the specifics of the transaction, making the claim verifiable and factual.

Sources

  1. Two men jailed for £4.8m gold toilet heist - BBC
  2. Gold toilet accused denies knowing seller was criminal - BBC
  3. Two men jailed over theft of £4.75m gold toilet from Blenheim Palace - The Guardian
  4. Two men jailed for £4.8m gold toilet heist - Yahoo News

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Fact Check: Within two weeks of the heist, James 'Jimmy' Sheen sold 20kg of gold, approximately one fifth of the toilet's weight, to an unknown buyer in Birmingham for £520,000. | TruthOrFake Blog