The 18-carat gold toilet, part of an art exhibition, was taken in just five minutes during the early hours of 14 September 2019.

The trial at Oxford Crown Court revealed a gang of five, using two vehicles, broke through locked gates and smashed their way into the palace with sledgehammers. The toilet, entitled “America” by artist Maurizio Cattelan, was fully functional and plumbed in, BBC reports.

Michael Jones, 39, denies burglary. Fred Doe, 36, and Bora Guccuk, 41, have pleaded not guilty to conspiring to transfer criminal property. James Sheen, 40, has admitted to burglary.

The court was told the 98kg toilet, insured for $6m, has never been recovered and is believed to have been melted down. Evidence presented included phone messages suggesting the defendants negotiated the sale of approximately 20kg of gold at £25,632 per kilo.

The prosecutor stated that Mr Jones had taken a photograph of the toilet during a “reconnaissance” visit the day before the theft. Blenheim Palace, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and birthplace of Sir Winston Churchill, was targeted in the swift operation. The trial continues.