A Canadian man has been sentenced to almost two years in prison for the theft of a historically significant photograph of Sir Winston Churchill, known as "The Roaring Lion." Jeffrey Wood, the perpetrator, pleaded guilty to stealing the original print from the Château Laurier hotel in Ottawa during a brief window between Christmas 2021 and early January 2022. In addition to theft, he also confessed to committing forgery.
This renowned photograph, taken by acclaimed photographer Yousuf Karsh in 1941, captures a stern-looking Churchill just after addressing the Canadian Parliament, and is famously featured on the UK £5 note. It was reported that the stolen piece was discovered last year in Genoa, Italy, by a private buyer unaware of its theft.
The crime remained undetected until August 2022, when hotel staff noticed that the original photo had been replaced with a counterfeit. According to Canadian media outlets, Wood claimed he took the photo as a desperate measure to acquire funds for his brother, who was experiencing mental health challenges.
During the sentencing, Justice Robert Wadden emphasized the importance of preserving national heritage, highlighting that a portrait captured by a Canadian photographer holds significant prestige. He noted, "To steal, damage and traffic in such property is to breach that trust." Geneviève Dumas, the general manager of Château Laurier, expressed relief at the recognition of Canadian history through this verdict.
Wood was sentenced to "two years less a day," which means he will serve his time in a provincial detainee facility rather than a federal prison. His defense attorney argued that the punishment was excessively severe, particularly as Wood was a first-time offender, raising questions about the proportionality of the sentence.
