Seven individuals have been indicted for allegedly vandalizing Donald Trump's Turnberry golf resort in Ayrshire, Scotland. The charges, which include property damage and terror-related offenses under the Counter-Terrorism Act 2008, are set for a trial in Glasgow in early 2028.
Glyphosate, turf, and political slogans at the Ailsa Course
The group is accused of causing significant "malicious mischief" at the five-star resort during a protest on March 8, 2025. According to the indictment, the suspects alleggedly targeted the iconic Ailsa Course—a venue that has hosted The Open Championship four times—by digging up turf and spraying the weed-killer Glyphosate on the fairways and greens.
Beyond the environmental damage, the report states that political slogans were painted or scored onto the grass, building walls, and pillars. The vandalism also reportedly included damage to a sprinkler system, which caused flooding, and the breaking of a light fixture. This attack targets a property Donald Trump has owned since 2014, having purchased the Turnberry resort for approximately £40 million.
Fake number plates and the attempt to defeat justice
Three of the defendants—Kieran Robson, Uzma Bashir, and Rebecca Sian Davies—face additional charges for allegedly attempting to defeat the ends of justice. The prosecution claims this trio used vehicles equipped with fake number plates to travel to the Turnberry site.
As reported by the source, these individuals allegedly used the same vehicles to escape the scene , attempting to "conceal and disguise" their movements to prevent arrest. while the entire group faces the primary mischief charges, these specific allegations of deception add a layer of criminal intent regarding the evasion of law enforcement.
A 15-day trial scheduled for February 2028
The legal proceedings for the seven defendants are set to be a long-term fixture in the Scottish court system. Prosecutor John Keenan KC stated that a trial has been identified for February 14, 2028, in Glasgow, with the proceedings expected to last for a period of 15 days.
The defendants, who include residents from Galashiels, Leeds, Wakefield, Liverpool, and London, have largely entered pleas of not guilty. Lord Arthurson has fixed the trial date, thouh a further hearing is scheduled to take place in March 2027. Currently, all seven suspects, including John Moxley and Dylan Chiaramello, remain out on bail.
The unverified nature of the "terrorist connection"
A central and controversial element of the case is the application of the Counter-Terrorism Act 2008.. Prosecutors claim the charges are aggravated by a "terrorist connection," though the specific nature of this connection has not been detailed in the initial reporting.
It remains unclear how the prosecution intends to link property damage and political slogans to the legal definition of terrorism. Furthermore, while a pro-Palestine demonstration occurred outside the court during the recent hearing, the specific ideological link between the protesters and the alleged "terrorist connection" in the indictment remains an unverified claim that will be central to the 2028 trial.
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