Sondheim Theatre Just Stop Oil Protestors Sentenced

Five Just Stop Oil activists have been sentenced for their part in storming the stage of a West End theatre production.

The five are:

• Hannah Taylor, 23, of Dronfield Woodhouse, Derbyshire;
• Lydia Gribbin, 28, of Bristol; 
• Hanan Ameur, 22 of Islington, London; 
• Noah Crane, 18, of Buxton, Norfolk; 
• Poppy Bliss, 19, of Nottingham.

Each were convicted of aggravated trespass following a trial at Westminster Magistrates' Court on Friday, 19th April 2024.

Gribbin and Crane were also convicted of criminal damage.

They were sentenced by District Judge Briony Clarke at the same court on Thursday, 6th June 2024.

The circumstances of this Just Stop Oil stunt outlined in my earlier article.

Briefly, the troublemaking quintet stormed the stage at the Sondheim Theatre, Shaftesbury Avenue, London, on the evening of Thursday, 5th October 2023.

The sell out performance of Les Misérables was cut short, much to the frustration of the 1,000 strong audience.

Gribbin and Crane caused £2,000 worth of damage when they walked over the orchestra pit's protective netting.

The criminal antics of the five costs the Sondheim £60,000, which has since been reimbursed by its insurers.

Sentencing, DJ Clarke has commented on the level of planning and organisation that has gone into these offences, with the five buying tickets for the show, wearing Just Stop Oil t-shirts, carrying Just Stop Oil banners and equipment for locking on.

DJ Clarke was of the view that the offences were serious enough to cross the community threshold.

The five were sentenced as follows:

• Taylor: 12-month community order with 100 hours' unpaid work and up to 15 days' rehabilitation activity;
• Gribbin: 12-month community order with 100 hours' unpaid work and up to 10 days' rehabilitation activity;
• Ameur: 12-month community order with 80 hours' unpaid work and up to 15 days' rehabilitation activity;
• Crane: 12-month community order with 130 hours' unpaid work and up to 15 days' rehabilitation activity;
• Bliss: 12-month community order with 80 hours' unpaid work and up to 10 days' rehabilitation activity.

Each defendant was ordered to pay £114 surcharge and £279 towards prosecution costs.