Animal rights protesters have avoided jail after causing more than £100,000 worth of damage at Arla's Hatfield distribution centre.

On September 8, 2022, members of Animal Rising - then known as Animal Rebellion - broke into the Mosquito Way site, and caused the damage across a 20 minute spell.

St Albans Crown Court heard how protesters entered the site using cordless drills to put holes in the tyres of lorries waiting at the yard, and bolt cutters to cut off the air valves in what was described as a "planned and deliberate" incident.

Following an extensive investigation, officers from Hertfordshire Constabulary’s Public Order Crime Team arrested and charged 14 people with conspiracy to cause criminal damage, although one these left the country following the expiration of their visa, and an arrest warrant remains outstanding.

The following eight people pleaded guilty and were sentenced across two hearings on Wednesday, July 31 and Monday, August 5:

  • Kim Wainwright, 51, of Beech Crescent, Hythe, Hampshire, sentenced to 16 months in prison, suspended for 21 months, 15-day rehabilitation activity requirement, and £1,400 compensation
  • Stephen Bone, 42, of Edward Road, Thorpe Le Soken, Essex, sentenced to 21 months in prison, suspended for 24 months, 100 hours of unpaid work and £1,400 compensation
  • Lucia Alexander, 40, of St Leonards Road, Norwich, Norfolk, sentenced to 18 months in prison, suspended for 21 months, 30-day rehabilitation activity requirement, 180 hours of unpaid work and £1,400 compensation
  • Rik Jansen, 28, of Boleyn Road, Islington, sentenced to 24 months in prison, suspended for 24 months, a 10-day rehabilitation activity requirement, 250 hours of unpaid work and £6,600 compensation
  • Cristina Acosta, 27, of McNeil Road, London, sentenced to 17 months in prison, suspended for 21 months, 170 hours of unpaid work, and £12,500 compensation
  • Rosa Sharkey, 24, of Princes Road, Brighton, East Sussex, sentenced to a 12-month community order, a Saturday curfew for five weeks, 150 hours of unpaid work and £1,400 compensation
  • Solene Rashleigh, 21, of Queensdown Gardens, Bristol, sentenced to 15 months in prison, suspended for 18 months, 10-day rehabilitation activity requirement, thinking skills course, 100 hours of unpaid work and £1,400 compensation
  • Elinor Joseph, 19, of Lynford Gardens, Edgware, London, sentenced to a 12-month community order, 40 hours of unpaid work and £2,000 compensation

Five people pleaded not guilty to the offences and were convicted by a jury following a three-week trial at St Albans Crown Court:

  • Robert Houston, 45, of Byng Road, London, sentenced to 22 months in prison, suspended for 24 months and £1,400 compensation
  • Anna Wilkinson, 45, of Petersham Avenue, Byfleet, Surrey, sentenced to a 15-month community order, Saturday curfew for two months,160 hours of unpaid work and £10,450 compensation
  • Bryan Mongelli, 30, of Cudworth House, Patmore Estate, London, sentenced to 20 months in prison, suspended for 24 months, 200 hours of unpaid work and £3,500 compensation.
  • Reuben Lemer, 29, of Glebe House, Great Hallingbury, Hertfordshire, sentenced to a 15-month community order, 15-day rehabilitation activity requirement and £7,000 compensation.
  • Xanthe Wells, 20, of High Street, Bedford, Bedfordshire, sentenced to 15 months in prison, suspended for 12 months, 10-day rehabilitation activity requirement, 200 hours of unpaid work and £5,025 in compensation

Five further suspects were arrested in connection with the incident but failed to answer their bail having fled to the Czech Republic, and their arrest warrants remain outstanding.

Inspector Donna Norris, from Hertfordshire Constabulary’s Public Order Crime Team and Senior Investigating Officer, said: "The sentences passed down by the courts are a culmination of nearly two years’ worth of work in what has been a challenging and complex investigation.

"These 13 defendants turned up at a dairy distribution centre and caused tens of thousands of pounds worth of damage. They were protesting around climate change and animal welfare and, regardless of your views on the topic, this does not mean you can take the law into your own hands and damage property belonging to others.

"This was a pre-planned incident, with much of it filmed and posted on social media. I hope these sentences will reassure the public that we will deal with matters such as these seriously, and that offenders will be brought to justice."