Buckingham Palace: Man who crashed into gates admits criminal damage


A 26-year-old man named Johnny Scott from Hornchurch, east London has admitted to causing damage worth more than £24,000 after he drove his VW Polo into the south centre gates of Buckingham Palace on 9 March. At the time of the incident, no members of the Royal Family were present inside the palace. Scott was arrested by armed officers at the scene and appeared at Westminster Magistrates’ Court where he pleaded guilty to a criminal damage charge.

According to the reports by the palace spokesperson, Scott appeared “fidgety and dazed” after the accident. Although Scott appeared to have encountered some injuries from the crash, no one else was reported injured. The case was adjourned until 13 February for further details, and medical reports were ordered before his next appearance.

District Judge Annabel Pilling released Scott on conditional bail, informing him that he is most likely to receive a community-based penalty instead of a prison sentence. She also gave him credit for admitting his crime at the earliest opportunity. Beyond the fact that Scott damaged the palace gates, the exact reason and motive for the incident are not known.

Although Buckingham Palace has recently been in the news for different reasons, Scott’s case is the latest in a few incidents of including breach of palace security. The palace gates are symbolic of the real presence of the monarchy in a country where they have a strong influence, so it is understandable why security is of utmost importance. Even if no members of the Royal Family are present, security is still kept at a high level to ensure safety

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