Yes campaigner spared jail for political message at Wallace Monument

A campaigner who painted a blue rectangle on rocks beneath the Wallace Monument to drum up support for a Yes vote in last year’s referendum was told by a sheriff he was lucky not to have been jailed.

James Young, who daubed the rectangle on the Abbey Craig, was caught when police noticed his blue shoes.

Officials had to call in specialists to remove his handiwork, landing Stirling Council a bill of almost £8,000.

Young, 48, of Dunkeld Road, Perth, pleaded guilty to criminal damage at an earlier hearing and was appearing for sentence.

Solicitor Alastair Ross, defending, said: “He has a £2,000 car to sell and arranged with his employer to work as much overtime as is required to make compensation for the full amount of the damage.”

Outside court, Young said: “I just wanted to draw attention to the Yes campaign.”