Just Stop Oil protester invaded Twickenham says he was ‘doing obligation’
- Samuel Johnson and Patrick Hart were acquitted at Kingston Crown Court
- They had disrupted the Gallagher Premiership Rugby final in May 2023
Two Just Stop Oil protester who invaded the pitch at Twickenham during a rugby match last year and threw powder paint have been cleared of criminal damage.
Samuel Johnson, 41, and Dr Patrick Hart, 38, who threw orange corn starch powder paint during the Gallagher Premiership Rugby final in May 2023, were acquitted by a jury at Kingston Crown Court on Tuesday.
JSO said prosecutors struggled to prove that they intended to cause criminal damage, because they would not have realised how difficult it would be to clean the paint from the specialist pitch.
Dr Hart, a GP from Bristol, said: ‘I told the jury that I am taking the most effective action I can, on the best available evidence, to protect the health of my patients. To put it simply: I am doing my duty as a doctor.’
Both protesters were subdued by stewards and led off the grass
Following the demonstration play was paused whilst the pitch was cleaned
Similar powder paint was used during the Ashes at Lords and was easily cleaned up with a leaf blower, but the hybrid pitch at Twickenham is a combination of natural and plastic grass and much more difficult to clean, the campaign group said.
Mr Johnson, a construction worker from Essex, said: ‘A year ago, Patrick and I ran onto Twickenham during the Premiership final, throwing orange powder in the air.
‘Today, we have been found not guilty of criminal damage. I took part in this action because our politicians continue to issue licences, knowing full well it will result in the deaths of millions of people.
‘Thousands have died due to extreme heat brought on by climate change while we were on trial. This is happening now.’
The pair also each face a charge of aggravated trespass which has been sent back to Wimbledon Magistrates’ Court to be dealt with at a later date, a member of court staff said.
The Crown Prosecution Service said it respects the jury’s decision.
The protest is similar to one that took place last week when activists targeted Stonehenge with powder paint, claiming it was ‘a bit of orange dust on a rock’.
Video footage showed two people wearing white shirts with the Just Stop Oil slogan, approaching the stone circle with canisters and spraying orange powder paint.
Environmental campaigners Rajan Naidu, 73, and Niamh Lynch, 21, were arrested on suspicion of criminal damage, damaging an ancient monument and deterring a person from engaging in a lawful activity. The duo were bailed today while Wiltshire Police continues to investigate.
