A Dorset sheep farmer has been granted a restraining order after suffering months of abuse at the hands of a self-styled "militant vegan".
Wimborne farmer John Wood and his family were branded "murderers" and "animal abusers" in an eight-month campaign of hatred orchestrated by Animal Liberation Front supporter Emma Christoforakis.
Christoforakis, 37, of Langton Long Blandford, was convicted of one count of harassment without violence during her recent trial at Poole Magistrates' Court. She was sentenced by the court on 23rd August 2019.
It is an offence under section 2 of the Protection from Harassment Act 1997 for an individual to pursue a course of conduct that amounts to harassment of another, which they know or ought to know amounts to harassment of that other. The offence is triable summarily and has a maximum sentence of 6 months custody and/or a fine at level 5 (unlimited).
Magistrates heard that Mr Wood runs the "Meat & Greet British Farming" Facebook page, which had attracted the negative attention of animal rights protestors including Christoforakis.
Richard Oakley, prosecuting, described how Christoforakis, pictured below with her husband Dimitri, turned up at Mr Wood's family home brandishing a camera when he was not present.
"She said she wanted to ask [Mr Wood] questions about abuse on Facebook", Mr Oakley told the court.
"Mrs Wood told the children to go inside and was not happy with the defendant being on private property.
"The defendant then shouted: 'How many sheep die? What’s your mortality rate?'. Mrs Wood then walked away. She then shouted: 'You are murderers'."
Mr Wood made a visit to Bournemouth to promote livestock farming in March 2018, where he was confronted by a group of protestors including Christoforakis.
On another occasion, she turned up at a livestock market and asked the organisers if they had ever dealt with him.
In August 2018, Christoforakis made a Facebook post with Mr and Mrs Wood's profile picture, calling them "animal abusers".
In October 2018, she posted a video of sheep being sheared, as part of an animal rights campaign, and commented: "We know first-hand how vile sheep farmers are, don't we? One in Wimborne too."
In March this year the police advised Mr Wood to cancel his farm's annual lambing open day, due to concerns that Christoforakis would arrange a demonstration that day. The event, which attracts around 2,000 people, raises funds for charities including Macmillan Cancer Research.
In a victim impact statement, which was read to the court, Mr Wood said: "My day-to-day life has changed.
"I no longer go to Bournemouth because I don't want the confrontation.
"I don't go into Blandford for fear of running into her.
"I have had many sleepless nights. I find myself worrying we will be broken into.
"She has recently been involved in the liberation of farm animals, which is a concern because I am worried we are going to have some lambs stolen."
Magistrates handed Christoforakis, pictured above campaigning for Dorset Animal Save, a two-year restraining order prohibiting her from contacting John or Karen Wood, either directly or indirectly, including via social media or a third party. The order also prohibits Christoforakis from going within 200 yards of the Woods' farm.
She was given an 18 month conditional discharge, ordered to pay Mr Wood compensation in the sum of £400, prosecution costs of £620 and a victim surcharge of £20.
Christoforakis told Farmers Weekly that she decided to visit John Wood's farm because she wanted to put a stop to online bullying she was experiencing on his Facebook page.
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