Image of Jeffrey Wood entering court
A Canadian man, Jeffrey Wood, has been sentenced to nearly two years in jail for stealing the iconic "The Roaring Lion" portrait of Sir Winston Churchill - original 1941 photo, shot by Yousuf Karsh.
Jeffrey has
admitted to taking the image from Ottawa’s Château Laurier hotel between late 2021 and early 2022.
He also pleaded guilty to forgery!
The artwork was recovered in 2024 in Italy from an unsuspecting buyer.
Wood claimed he stole "The Roaring Lion" to help his brother, who was struggling with mental health issues. It was later discoveded missing by a hotel staffer in August 2022 after noticing the original had been swapped with a fake.
Though a first-time offender, Wood received "two years less a day," meaning he will serve time in a provincial facility.
The Château Laurier Hotel will undoubtedly enhance security by adding extra hooks when it welcomes back "The Roaring Lion."
-J.Larson
