A Canadian man has been sentenced to virtually two years in jail for stealing a well-known {photograph} of Winston Churchill generally known as “The Roaring Lion”.
Jeffrey Wooden had pleaded responsible to stealing the unique print from Ottawa’s Château Laurier lodge between Christmas 2021 and early January 2022. He additionally admitted committing forgery.
The photograph of Britain’s war-time prime minister, taken by Yousuf Karsh in 1941, options on the UK £5 be aware.
Ottawa Police mentioned it was discovered final yr in Genoa, Italy within the possession of a personal purchaser, who was unaware it was stolen.
The picture depicts a frowning Churchill, who was 67 on the time, shortly after he delivered a speech to the Canadian parliament.
It wasn’t till August 2022 {that a} lodge employees member realised the unique photograph had been changed with a pretend.
In response to Canadian media, Wooden mentioned he took the photograph to seek out cash for his brother, who was affected by psychological well being points.
Throughout sentencing, Justice Robert Wadden mentioned: “It’s a level of nationwide delight {that a} portrait taken by a Canadian photographer would have achieved such fame.”
“There is a component of belief in our society that enables such properties to be displayed, to be loved by all Canadians. To steal, injury and visitors in such property is to breach that belief,” he added.
“We’re very blissful to see that Canadian historical past is recognised,” mentioned Geneviève Dumas, the final supervisor of the Château Laurier lodge, in keeping with the Canadian Broadcasting Company.
Wooden was sentenced to “two years much less a day”, a distinction which suggests he’ll serve his sentence in a provincial establishment as a substitute of a federal jail.
The lawyer representing Wooden mentioned the sentence was “unnecessarily harsh” on condition that he was a first-time offender.
