Four deny criminal damage following toppling of Colston statue Top Story January 26, 2021 BRISTOL: Four people have denied committing criminal damage in relation to the toppling of a statue of slave trader Edward Colston in Bristol. Rhian Graham, 29, Milo Ponsford, 25, Jake Skuse, 36, and Sage Willoughby, 21, appeared before Bristol Magistrates’ Court for their first hearing on Monday morning.The bronze memorial to the 17th century slave merchant was pulled down during a Black Lives Matter protest on June 7 last year, before being dumped in Bristol Harbour. It was later recovered from the water by Bristol City Council. Charges allege that the four defendants “with each other and others unknown without lawful excuse” damaged property, namely the Edward Colston statue and plinth of a value unknown, belonging to the council.