FIVE people have been sentenced for their involvement in protests at the Muller dairy factory in Hampton Lovett, Droitwich.
The protests, led by the Animal Rising group (formerly Animal Rebellion), took place in September 2022. During the incident, protesters caused a blockade preventing dairy from entering the site.
Protesters were calling for people to move to a plant-based food system and disrupted lorries by climbing on top of them, gluing themselves to the ground and chaining themselves to fences.
Muller factories in Gloucestershire and Somerset were also targeted alongside an Arla milk factory in Buckinghamshire.
All five offenders were sentenced at Worcester Crown Court last Friday (February 7).
Those convicted include Yves Tchapda (29, of Malton Road in Worsley, Manchester), Oldham), Lawrence Smith (34, of no fixed abode), Sarah McCaffrey (21, of Hunterlees Gardens of Glassford in Strathaven), and Ashley Faulkner (33, of no fixed abode). One defendant, Jack Fleming (28, of Doctor Lane in Scouthead) pleaded gulty.
Offences included causing a public nuisance and conspiracy to commit criminal damage. One defendant, McCaffrey, was also convicted of having an article with intent to destroy or damage property.
Costs for those convicted ranged from £200 to £1,200, with all of them being ordered to carry out unpaid work ranging from 120 to 240 hours. All of the defendants received community orders of either 12 or 18-months.
Detective Inspector Ollie Moore, said: “We respect the right for peaceful protest, but the safety of our local communities remains our utmost priority.
“In this instance some of the protestors unlawfully entered the site and caused criminal damage which is not acceptable.
“The level of disruption caused was huge, costing not only the business involved a lot of money, but also diverting vital police resources away from our local communities.
“Fleming pleaded guilty to the offences but the other defendants didn’t. I’m glad that the jury found them guilty and that all will now pay the price for their actions.”
Court proceedings for further defendants involved in the protests are ongoing.
Sentences in full
- Tchapda was convicted of two counts of intentionally or recklessly causing a public nuisance and was sentenced to 220 hours unpaid work, an 18-month community order and £600 costs.
- Fleming pleaded guilty to two counts of conspiracy to commit criminal damage and was sentenced to a 12-month community order, 120 hours of unpaid work and £200 costs.
- Smith was liable for conspiracy to commit criminal damage and two counts of intentionally or recklessly causing a public nuisance and was given a 12-month community order, 220 hours of unpaid work, costs of £1000 and a 20-hour rehabilitation period.
- McCaffrey’s offences included having an article with intent to destroy or damage property and intentionally or recklessly causing a public nuisance and received a 12-month community order 200 hours of unpaid work and £400 costs.
- Faulkner was guilty of conspiracy to commit criminal damage and intentionally or recklessly causing a public nuisance and was landed themselves a 18-month community order, 240 hours of unpaid work and £1200 costs.
