Two Just Stop Oil activists have been sentenced for causing criminal damage during the World Snooker Championships.
Edred Whittingham, 26, of May Street, Exeter, was convicted of criminal damage following a trial at Sheffield Magistrates' Court on Friday, 10th May 2024.
Margaret Reid, 53, of Low Fellside, Kendal, was convicted of attempted criminal damage at the same trial.
The pair were sentenced at the same court on Wednesday, 10th July 2024.
Criminal damage is an offence under section 1(1) of the Criminal Damage Act 1971. Criminal damage below £5,000 is a summary offence, with a maximum penalty of 3 months' custody and/or a fine at level 4. We have previously written a guide to the offence of criminal damage, which some readers may find of interest.
The circumstances of the offence are described in my earlier article. In the briefest possible terms the dynamic duo, much to the annoyance of spectators, clambered on top of snooker tables during play.
The pair simultaneously targeted both tables in the Crucible Theatre's main arena. Whittingham was able to mount one of the tables and covered it in orange dye. Reid was intercepted by match referee Olivier Marteel as she tried to mount the second table.
DJ Daniel Curtis sentenced the pair as follows:
- Whittingham to an 18-month community order with a requirement that he completes 200 hours of unpaid work and up to 25 days' rehabilitation activity. He was also ordered to pay £899 in compensation, £114 surcharge and £390 towards prosecution costs;
- Reid to a 2-year community order with the requirement that she completes 100 hours of unpaid work and up to 10 days' rehabilitation activity. She was also ordered to pay £114 surcharge and £390 towards prosecution costs.
DJ Curtis warned the pair that if their criminality continued they would end up in custody sooner or later.
Speaking outside court, an unrepentent Whittingham said: "We're facing a climate crisis.
"Prison time, community service, it's not going to deter us."
Time will tell.
3 comments:
Interested to see how probation approach the re-hab element of the sentence. Not sure in these instances that there's anything which will address or educate the individual of their behaviour.
I think you're probably right. Maybe something to do with thinking skills and how their behaviour impacts on the wider public.
I’d say their thinking skills are top top. And if we talk about how behaviour impacts the wider public, well, big oil killing humanities habitat seems pretty high up that list to me
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