Ottawa: A Canadian man has been jailed for stealing the iconic ‘The Roaring Lion’, a portrait of Sir Winston Churchill from Ottawa’s Chateau Laurier hotel, a theft that sparked international headlines.
Jeffrey Wood, 43, from Powassan, Ontario, pleaded guilty to stealing the original ‘The Roaring Lion’ portrait, taken by famous Canadian photographer Yousuf Karsh in 1941. The photograph, which also appears on the UK’s £5 note, was taken shortly after Churchill delivered a speech to Canada’s parliament.
Ottawa Police confirmed the stolen print was recovered in Genoa, Italy, in 2023 from a private buyer who did not know it had been stolen. The photograph had been replaced with a fake, discovered by hotel staff in August 2022. Wood also confessed to committing forgery.
Wood was arrested on 25 April 2024 and charged with several offences relating to the theft of the ‘The Roaring Lion’ photograph. Wood told authorities he stole the photo to help his brother, who was struggling with mental health issues.
Justice Robert Wadden, in delivering the sentence, remarked that, “It is a point of national pride that a portrait taken by a Canadian photographer would have achieved such fame. There is an element of trust in our society that allows such properties to be displayed to be enjoyed by all Canadians. To steal, damage, and traffic in such property is to breach that trust.”
Genevieve Dumas, general manager of the Chateau Laurier hotel, said that, “We’re very happy to see that Canadian history is recognized.”
Wood received a sentence of ‘two years less a day’, meaning he will serve his time in a provincial institution. His lawyer called the sentence “unnecessarily harsh”, noting that it was his first offence.
The case has drawn widespread attention to the cultural value and security of historic artefacts. ‘The Roaring Lion’ portrait remains a powerful symbol of leadership, resilience and national heritage.
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