The Press and Journal (Inverness, Highlands, and Islands)
Drug-fuelled teen guilty of vandalism and theft
Orkney: Cathedral’ s donation box raided and remembrance book damaged
A drunken teenage vandal and thief who broke into Orkney’s iconic St Magnus Cathedral on Armistice Day and stole money from a donation box has been sentenced to 10 months detention.
Anton Rodwell, 19, also vandalised the internationally-famous 12th century building, including damaging a Book of Remembrance for those who lost their lives on HMS Royal Oak in World War II.
The crimes at the cathedral were part of a drugfuelled rampage through Kirkwall town centre over Remembrance weekend in November last year.
Rodwell, who appeared at the town’s sheriff court this week from custody, left a trail of destruction in his wake, causing over £6,000 worth of damage.
When police tracked down the teenager he was found to have a knife in his possession.
He told officers he was drunk, deluded and had taken illicit drugs at the time.
His mini-crimewave included breaking a glass door panel at the Co-op supermarket, a window at a local garage, a glass door panel at a newsagents and breaking windows of cars.
Rodwell admitted breaking into St Magnus Cathedral with intent to steal, forcing open a donation box and stealing a quantity of money.
Also, while at the cathedral, he gouged a piano – or similar instrument – with a knife, broke the glass case containing the remembrance book, damaging the book, and breaking two mirrors.
The cathedral was closed all day on Saturday, November 11, as a result and a funeral due to take place there had to be moved to another nearby church.
It re-opened on Sunday for the Remembrance services, but some windows were boarded up.
After Thursday’s sentencing, Inspector Keith Bendall, based in Orkney, said: “We acknowledge the
“It’s an assault on Orkney and an assault on what we stand for”
conviction and sentencing of Anton Rodwell after he admitted breaking into St Magnus Cathedral last November.
“The cathedral is a building which is much loved, both locally and internationally, and this incident caused considerable upset.
“Rodwell’s actions caused considerable damage to the building itself and valuable property within it, as well as causing unnecessary disruption to the running of the church.
“We’re grateful to the witnesses who assisted with our inquiries at the time. Their help led to the swift arrest of Anton Rodwell and ultimately his conviction.”
The Royal Oak battleship was sunk in Scapa Flow by a U-boat, and more than 830 crew members died. A Book of Remembrance has been in the cathedral to commemorate those who perished.
Community leaders described the vandalism of the cathedral at the time as a “disgrace”.
Councillor John Ross Scott, from Kirkwall East, said: “This is the jewel of the community and, when something like this happens, it’s a disgrace. It’s an assault on Orkney and an assault on what we stand for.”