A Canadian man named Jeffrey Wood has been sentenced to almost two years in jail for stealing the iconic photograph of Sir Winston Churchill, known as "The Roaring Lion." Wood pleaded guilty to taking the original print from the Château Laurier hotel in Ottawa between Christmas 2021 and early January 2022, and he also admitted to forgery.
Captured by renowned photographer Yousuf Karsh in 1941, this image of Britain's wartime leader appears on the UK £5 note. The photo was ultimately found in Genoa, Italy, with a private buyer who had no idea it was stolen.
The momentous photo shows a serious Churchill shortly after he delivered a significant speech to the Canadian parliament at age 67. The theft went unnoticed until August 2022 when hotel staff realized the original had been swapped for a replica. Wood claimed he stole the photo to help his brother, who struggles with mental health issues.
During sentencing, Justice Robert Wadden emphasized the importance of preserving national heritage, stating, "To steal, damage and traffic in such property is to breach that trust." The general manager of Château Laurier expressed pride in ensuring Canadian history remains safeguarded. Wood received a sentence of "two years less a day," allowing him to serve in a provincial institution instead of federal prison. His lawyer described the sentence as "unnecessarily harsh" for a first-time offender.
