Protesters Convicted for Malicious Mischief After Vandalizing Queen Victoria Bust

Two protesters have been found guilty of malicious mischief after smearing jam and porridge over a bust of Queen Victoria. Sarah Martin, 30, and Hannah Taylor, 24, carried out the act, which they described as a demonstration against rising food insecurity, in March at Glasgow’s Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum. The pair, who are activists for the campaign group This is Rigged, also spray-painted an offensive word on the plinth of the statue. As a consequence, a section of the museum was closed for several hours, and the charity Glasgow Life, which operates the museum, incurred costs of approximately £600 for the repair of the statue and its plinth. Martin and Taylor were convicted of the malicious mischief charge following a trial at Glasgow Sheriff Court. The two individuals, who represented themselves, were acquitted of a separate charge of behaving in a threatening or abusive manner. During the trial, a video recording of the protest was presented, in which Martin is heard to say: “We refuse to be dragged back to the Victorian era.” Michael Barr, a museum gallery assistant, testified to the court that the bust had been a permanent fixture at the museum for more than 30 years. Regarding the protest, he stated: “They shouldn’t be doing it, this belongs to the city and they could have damaged it.” In her closing submission to the court, Martin asserted: “Mr Barr states that the bust belongs to Glasgow, I am a citizen of Glasgow and I am interacting with it as necessary.” She further added: “I was forced into taking action and I took no reckless or thoughtless action – I sought to express my rights to protest.” Sentencing has been deferred until next month, pending the completion of background reports. Both women have had their bail continued in the interim.