Jeffrey Wood has been sentenced to nearly two years in prison for the theft of the iconic "Roaring Lion" photograph of Winston Churchill from Ottawa's Château Laurier hotel. Wood, who pleaded guilty to the crime committed between Christmas 2021 and early January 2022, also admitted to forgery. The photo, captured by Yousuf Karsh in 1941, depicts a solemn Churchill shortly after addressing the Canadian parliament and is renowned globally, even appearing on the UK £5 note. The image was recovered in Genoa, Italy, with a buyer unaware it was stolen. During sentencing, Justice Robert Wadden emphasized the breach of trust involved in stealing culturally significant property. Wood, motivated by financial distress related to his brother's mental health, received a sentence of "two years less a day," allowing him to serve in a provincial facility. His lawyer criticized the sentence as excessively harsh for a first-time offender.
Iconic Churchill Photograph Theft: Canadian Man Sentenced
Iconic Churchill Photograph Theft: Canadian Man Sentenced
A Canadian man receives a two-year prison sentence for stealing a famous Churchill photograph.
Iconic Churchill Photograph Theft: Canadian Man Sentenced
A Canadian man receives a two-year prison sentence for stealing a famous Churchill photograph.
Jeffrey Wood has been sentenced to nearly two years in prison for the theft of the iconic "Roaring Lion" photograph of Winston Churchill from Ottawa's Château Laurier hotel. Wood, who pleaded guilty to the crime committed between Christmas 2021 and early January 2022, also admitted to forgery. The photo, captured by Yousuf Karsh in 1941, depicts a solemn Churchill shortly after addressing the Canadian parliament and is renowned globally, even appearing on the UK £5 note. The image was recovered in Genoa, Italy, with a buyer unaware it was stolen. During sentencing, Justice Robert Wadden emphasized the breach of trust involved in stealing culturally significant property. Wood, motivated by financial distress related to his brother's mental health, received a sentence of "two years less a day," allowing him to serve in a provincial facility. His lawyer criticized the sentence as excessively harsh for a first-time offender.
A Canadian man receives a two-year prison sentence for stealing a famous Churchill photograph.
Jeffrey Wood has been sentenced to nearly two years in prison for the theft of the iconic "Roaring Lion" photograph of Winston Churchill from Ottawa's Château Laurier hotel. Wood, who pleaded guilty to the crime committed between Christmas 2021 and early January 2022, also admitted to forgery. The photo, captured by Yousuf Karsh in 1941, depicts a solemn Churchill shortly after addressing the Canadian parliament and is renowned globally, even appearing on the UK £5 note. The image was recovered in Genoa, Italy, with a buyer unaware it was stolen. During sentencing, Justice Robert Wadden emphasized the breach of trust involved in stealing culturally significant property. Wood, motivated by financial distress related to his brother's mental health, received a sentence of "two years less a day," allowing him to serve in a provincial facility. His lawyer criticized the sentence as excessively harsh for a first-time offender.
