A JUST Stop Oil mob who invaded the Lord’s pitch in cricket’s Ashes laughed at the law yesterday after they were spared jail.
Student Daniel Knorr, 21, was carted away by England wicketkeeper Jonny Bairstow during June’s Second Test.
AlamyThree Just Stop Oil protesters who interrupted the Ashes Test at Lord’s have avoided jail[/caption]
Student Daniel Knorr, 21, was carted away by England wicketkeeper Jonny Bairstow during June’s Second TestRex
Getty Images – GettyJacob Bourne threw orange powder paint before he was caught by security[/caption]
Jacob Bourne, 27, threw orange powder paint before he was caught by security then pelted with champagne corks and fruit by angry fans.
Gran Judit Murray, 69, was tackled on the boundary.
But the trio got just a small fine and 60 hours’ unpaid work — despite the Home Office and police vowing to crack down on Just Stop Oil protests with the updated Public Order Act.
As the eco-zealots celebrated, Tory MP Nigel Mills labelled the sentence a disgrace.
He added: “Their selfish actions could have seen the match get cancelled, ruining a great time for thousands and costing millions.
“This is a very lenient sentence and will encourage other acts of mindless disorder.”
Murray, of West Ewell, Surrey, Oxford University student Knorr, and Bourne, of Leeds, had denied aggravated trespassing.
But they were found guilty in September at a one-day trial costing an extra £10,000.
If the powder had got on to the wicket the Test would probably have been abandoned, leading to the loss of millions in revenue.
District Judge Neeta Minhas handed each protester a 12-month community order, with the 60 hours’ unpaid work requirement.
A pre-sentence report had suggesting Knorr and Murray were not fit for community work.
But referring to footage of them on the pitch, the judge said she was satisfied they had sufficient levels of fitness.
Each was told to pay £440 in fines and costs.
They were banned from Lord’s for a year.
Judge Minhas had previously dealt with two JSO protesters who slapped vegan chocolate cake in the face of a waxwork of King Charles at Madame Tussauds.
They got a conditional discharge, community order and fines.
Yesterday, JSO supporters celebrated the latest court result in message groups.
One wrote: “The judge in this case is heroic. That’s amazing.
“I thought they would be jailed. Brilliant news.”
Another said: “Well done guys, brilliant. Our message is working.”
A third added: “What the heroes did at the cricket got great publicity.
“There is nothing to fear. Hopefully it will be noticed by others.”
District Judge Neeta Minhas handed out the sentencesYouTube Creator – [#item_custom_dc:creator]
