A man who damaged the Stone of Destiny display has escaped jail, receiving a community service sentence instead. His actions sparked significant debate.
Joe was part of a protest group called This is Rigged. On November 15, 2023, he and two friends made headlines for their bold actions at Edinburgh Castle. They all managed to avoid jail time.
In court, Joe admitted to the vandalism. He used various tools, including a hammer and chisel, to break the display. The judge handed him a community payback order instead of prison.
A tour guide witnessed the whole thing. She pressed a panic button after seeing Joe trying to smash the cabinet. Before that, she heard someone say it was a peaceful protest.
During the court proceedings, the fiscal depute shared that the guide saw Joe spray painting the cabinet too. The judge took into account Joe’s lack of previous convictions and his recent graduation.
His lawyer argued that Joe still believes in the cause but doesn’t want to end up in trouble again. The judge acknowledged the importance of political expression but noted that Joe crossed a line.
In the end, Joe received a 12-month community payback order and 180 hours of unpaid work. The Stone of Destiny has a rich history, tied to Scottish and UK monarchies for centuries.
Originally taken by King Edward I in 1296, it has been part of many coronation ceremonies. In 1950, students even stole it from Westminster Abbey to return it to Scotland.
After a long journey, the stone was returned to Scotland in 1996 and is now displayed at Edinburgh Castle. It recently moved to Perth Museum for a major redevelopment.
