The butler did it: Elysee worker sentenced for stealing presidential porcelain

A Paris court on Thursday handed a former silverware keeper at France's presidential palace a two-year sentence for stealing hundreds of thousands of euros worth of luxury items between 2023 and 2025.

Thomas M. was ordered to wear an electronic tag for a year, with the second year suspended, for stealing exclusive tableware and other items worth nearly 400,000 euros ($470,000), the court ruled.

He was also fined 10,000 euros and barred from working in a similar position and from setting foot in an auction house ever again.

His partner, Damien G., was also sentenced to two years. He was ordered to wear an electronic tag for eight months, with the remaining 16 months suspended.

The couple sold most of the stolen items via a Vinted business account and on Facebook, and said they had pocketed around 15,000 euros in profit.

A third man, Ghislain M., who bought nearly 80 of the items, was given a one-year suspended prison sentence. 

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The case came to light last year when the Sevres national porcelain manufacturer -- which makes many of the valuable plates for the presidential palace -- saw some of the items listed on auction sites. 

Investigations quickly focused on Thomas M., a contract worker in the Elysee's silverware department since 2020 and the only staff member with direct access to the warehouse keys.

According to the manufacturer, the estimated value of the items was 377,370 euros -- a sum the defence described as "absurd". 

During the trial in February, the former maitre d'hotel said he had stolen the objects for their beauty, but decided to sell them to pay off heavy debts. 

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