Student Activists Skip Jail After Protest At Edinburgh Castle

Two activists have avoided jail time following their act of vandalism against a glass cabinet containing the Crown of Scotland and the Stone of Destiny during a protest against food poverty at Edinburgh Castle.

Jamie Priest, 26, and Catriona Roberts, 22, both students from Glasgow, targeted the display on November 15th of last year as part of a demonstration organised by the campaign group This is Rigged, which has taken responsibility for the incident.

The pair pleaded guilty to causing malicious damage at an earlier hearing at Edinburgh Sheriff Court but were acquitted of breaching the peace.

During the protest, a tour guide escorting visitors through the castle's Crown Room reported hearing someone shout, "This is a peaceful protest."

Following the incident, This is Rigged issued a statement saying, "Food is a human right. Hunger is a political choice."

As a result of the protest, the Crown Room was temporarily closed to the public and Historic Environment Scotland noted that the protective glass surrounding the artifacts sustained damage amounting to nearly £3,000.

Evidence presented in court indicated that a male activist was spotted spray-painting the cabinet, while Priest recorded the event on video, prompting the tour guide to activate a panic button to alert staff and police.

A phrase in Gaelic, which translates to "The people are mightier than a Lord," was found written on the cabinet.

In a sentencing hearing on Thursday, the pair were assigned unpaid community service, with Priest receiving 120 hours and Roberts 180 hours.