The image, captured by photographer Yousuf Karsh, has been returned after a lengthy investigation.
**Iconic Churchill Photograph Thief Receives Two-Year Sentence**
**Iconic Churchill Photograph Thief Receives Two-Year Sentence**
Canadian man Jeffrey Wood faces jail time for stealing "The Roaring Lion" photograph.
A Canadian man was sentenced to nearly two years in prison for the theft of "The Roaring Lion," an iconic photograph of Sir Winston Churchill. Jeffrey Wood entered a guilty plea for stealing the original print from Ottawa's prestigious Château Laurier hotel during the holiday season of 2021. He also pleaded guilty to forgery.
The famous image, a powerful portrayal of Churchill taken by renowned photographer Yousuf Karsh in 1941, features the iconic British Prime Minister just after delivering a significant speech to the Canadian Parliament. The photograph is not just a piece of art; it has cultural significance as it is also represented on the UK £5 note.
The theft went unnoticed until August 2022 when a hotel staff member discovered that the original had been replaced with an imitation. Ottawa Police stated the stolen photo was eventually located in Genoa, Italy, still in possession of a buyer who was completely unaware of its stolen status.
Wood claimed his actions were driven by a need to raise funds for his brother, who was experiencing mental health challenges. Justice Robert Wadden, during the sentencing, expressed the strong sense of national pride tied to the photograph, emphasizing the breach of trust involved in the theft. "To steal, damage and traffic in such property is to breach that trust," he remarked.
The general manager of the Château Laurier hotel, Geneviève Dumas, expressed satisfaction with the recognition of Canadian history through this case. Wood was granted a sentence "two years less a day," meaning his incarceration will be served in a provincial institution, as opposed to a federal prison. His lawyer at the hearings described the punishment as "unnecessarily harsh," considering Wood's status as a first-time offender.
The famous image, a powerful portrayal of Churchill taken by renowned photographer Yousuf Karsh in 1941, features the iconic British Prime Minister just after delivering a significant speech to the Canadian Parliament. The photograph is not just a piece of art; it has cultural significance as it is also represented on the UK £5 note.
The theft went unnoticed until August 2022 when a hotel staff member discovered that the original had been replaced with an imitation. Ottawa Police stated the stolen photo was eventually located in Genoa, Italy, still in possession of a buyer who was completely unaware of its stolen status.
Wood claimed his actions were driven by a need to raise funds for his brother, who was experiencing mental health challenges. Justice Robert Wadden, during the sentencing, expressed the strong sense of national pride tied to the photograph, emphasizing the breach of trust involved in the theft. "To steal, damage and traffic in such property is to breach that trust," he remarked.
The general manager of the Château Laurier hotel, Geneviève Dumas, expressed satisfaction with the recognition of Canadian history through this case. Wood was granted a sentence "two years less a day," meaning his incarceration will be served in a provincial institution, as opposed to a federal prison. His lawyer at the hearings described the punishment as "unnecessarily harsh," considering Wood's status as a first-time offender.
