Two Just Stop Oil activists have been jailed for damaging a priceless Van Gogh masterpiece by throwing Heinz Tomato Soup all over it.
Phoebe Plummer, 23, of Lambeth, and Anna Holland, 22, of Newcastle upon Tyne, were convicted of criminal damage following a trial at Southwark Crown Court on Thursday, 25th July 2024.
You can read details of the case in my earlier article, but very briefly the pair entered the National Gallery in central London, made straight for the painting, threw tomato soup over it and glued their hands to the adjacent wall.
Fortunately the canvas was protected by glass, but the soup caused £10,000 worth of damage to the 17th century gold-etched Italian wooden frame.
On conclusion of the trial HHJ Chris Hehir made plain to the pair that custody was inevitable.
A man of his word, he jailed Plummer for 2 years and Holland for 20 months in relation to the criminal damage.
Plummer was handed an additional 3 months' consecutive for interference with key national infrastructure. Given the prolific nature of her offending, it is quite difficult to keep track of things.
HHJ Hehir noted of Plummer: "You have no remorse for what you did – instead you are proud of it. You made no effort to offer me any actual mitigation, and in truth there is none of any substance in your case."
You can read HHJ Hehir's full sentencing remarks here.
Elsewhere in Just Stop Oil land: On hearing news of Plummer and Holland's sentences, three more Just Stop Oil activists - Ludi Simpson, 71, of Bradford; Mary Patricia Somerville, 77, of Bradford; and Phil Green, 24, of Cornwall - went straight to the National Gallery and threw tomato soup at two different versions of Sunflowers, including the one previously targeted.
No comments:
Post a Comment