In a strange twist of art and crime, a Canadian man has been sentenced to nearly two years behind bars.
He stole an iconic photograph of Winston Churchill.
One so famous, it’s featured on the UK’s £5 note.
Jeffrey Wood admitted to stealing the original “Roaring Lion” portrait from Ottawa’s historic Château Laurier hotel.
The theft occurred sometime between Christmas 2021 and New Year’s 2022.
He even forged a replica to cover his tracks.
The theft went unnoticed until August 2022, when a staff member realized the Churchill on the wall was a fake.
The real photograph, snapped in 1941 by legendary Canadian photographer Yousuf Karsh, was later tracked down in Italy.
It was tucked away in a private buyer’s collection—who had no idea it was stolen.
Why Did Wood Do It?
According to reports, he claimed it was a desperate move to help his mentally ill brother.
“It’s a point of national pride,” said Justice Robert Wadden during sentencing.
“To steal, damage and traffic in such property is to breach that trust.”
While Wood’s lawyer called the sentence “unnecessarily harsh” for a first-time offender, others saw justice served.
As the Château Laurier’s manager put it, “We’re very happy to see that Canadian history is recognized.”
