Canadian man Jeffrey Wood has been sentenced to almost two years in prison for stealing the iconic photograph of Sir Winston Churchill known as "The Roaring Lion." This legendary image, captured by photographer Yousuf Karsh in 1941, was taken from Ottawa's Château Laurier hotel between Christmas 2021 and early January 2022. Wood, who had planned to sell the photograph to help his brother with mental health issues, pled guilty to both theft and forgery.
The stolen print made headlines when it was discovered in Genoa, Italy, with a private buyer who had no idea it was stolen. The hotel staff only realized by August 2022 that the original photograph had been replaced with a replica. During sentencing, Justice Robert Wadden emphasized the significance of the photograph to Canadian heritage, expressing disappointment at the breach of public trust associated with such thefts. Although Wood's lawyer claimed the sentence was excessive for a first-time offender, he was given "two years less a day," allowing him to serve time in a provincial institution rather than a federal one.
The stolen print made headlines when it was discovered in Genoa, Italy, with a private buyer who had no idea it was stolen. The hotel staff only realized by August 2022 that the original photograph had been replaced with a replica. During sentencing, Justice Robert Wadden emphasized the significance of the photograph to Canadian heritage, expressing disappointment at the breach of public trust associated with such thefts. Although Wood's lawyer claimed the sentence was excessive for a first-time offender, he was given "two years less a day," allowing him to serve time in a provincial institution rather than a federal one.
