Trump Golf Resort Protesters Face Terrorism-Linked Aggravation Charge
The seven defendants are accused of criminal damage during a 2025 protest, with prosecutors alleging the offence had a “terrorist connection”.
Seven people accused of vandalising Donald Trump’s Turnberry golf resort during a protest in March 2025 are facing a criminal damage charge aggravated by an alleged “terrorist connection”.
The allegation is contained in an indictment lodged with the High Court of Justiciary in Glasgow over the incident at the Ayrshire resort on 8 March 2025.
The indictment states that the offence was aggravated under Section 31 of the Counter-Terrorism Act 2008, as amended by the Counter-Terrorism and Sentencing Act 2021, because it had a “terrorist connection”.
The seven — Kieran Robson, 35, Uzma Bashir, 56, Ricky Southall, 34, Autumn Taylor Ward, 22, Rebecca Sian Davies, 29, John Moxley, 58, and Dylan Chiaramello, 24 — have all been charged with criminal damage.
They are not charged with terrorism offences.
Protest Damage Alleged At Turnberry
Prosecutors allege that the group dug up turf and sprayed weedkiller on the golf course, damaged a sprinkler system causing flooding and damaged a light.
The indictment also alleges that slogans including “Free Gaza”, “Free Palestine” and “Gaza is not for sale” were painted on the course and buildings, alongside offensive messages directed at Trump.
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Robson separately faces an allegation that he committed the offence while on bail. The indictment states that he had been granted bail at Edinburgh Sheriff Court on 9 January 2025.
The seven had been due to appear at the High Court in Glasgow next Monday. However, the Scottish Courts and Tribunals Service said on Friday that the hearing had been adjourned, with the next hearing scheduled for October.
Defend Our Juries Criticises Charge
The Defend Our Juries group has criticised the use of the terrorism-related aggravation, arguing that it could expose the accused to substantially longer prison sentences despite the absence of terrorism charges.
The allegation comes after four members of Palestine Action received longer sentences in June following their conviction over a raid on a factory operated by Israeli defence company Elbit Systems.
More than £1 million in damage was caused during that incident, and the judge concluded that there was a terrorist connection.
Human rights groups and supporters of those convicted criticised the sentences as disproportionate.
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Palestine Action was proscribed as a terrorist organisation in the UK in July 2025. The Court of Appeal subsequently upheld the Government’s decision, finding that the group had “overtly promoted unlawful violence amounting to terrorism”.
Palestine Action co-founder Huda Ammori is seeking permission to challenge the implementation of the ban at the UK Supreme Court.
US Also Designates Palestine Action
The case also comes against the backdrop of action against Palestine Action in the United States.
The US Government designated Palestine Action as a terrorist organisation on Wednesday.
The Trump administration said the designation formed part of measures targeting what it described as “far-left extremists”.
The terrorism-related aggravation in the Turnberry case does not, on the information provided, amount to a terrorism charge against the seven accused.
