Just Stop Oil protester from Leeds denies trespassing on Lord’s cricket ground during Ashes Test

A 27-year-old Leeds man has denied invading Lord’s cricket ground to throw orange powder during the second Ashes Test.
By PA reporter
Published 1st Aug 2023, 16:09 BST
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Jacob Bourne, along with Judit Murray, 69, Daniel Knorr, 21, are accused of running onto the pitch to disrupt the match between England and Australia on June 28. They all pleaded not guilty at Westminster Magistrates’ Court to aggravated trespass having been accused of obstructing or disrupting a person engaged in a lawful activity.

According to the charges, having allegedly trespassed on the venue, they entered a “redistricted pitch area” and interrupted the match “by throwing orange powder on the pitch” with the intention of “obstructing or disrupting that activity”.

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The protesters dispute trespassing on the basis they wish to hear proof the property is private, the court heard. They also believe it is possible for a person to enter a field of play without a match being disrupted, Hussain Hassan, defending, said. Mr Hassan also challenged prosecutors to prove the match was lawful.

Just Stop Oil protester Jacob Bourne, 27, from Hyde Park in Leeds, as he arrives at Westminster Magistrates' Court (Photo by Jordan Pettitt/PA Wire)Just Stop Oil protester Jacob Bourne, 27, from Hyde Park in Leeds, as he arrives at Westminster Magistrates' Court (Photo by Jordan Pettitt/PA Wire)
Just Stop Oil protester Jacob Bourne, 27, from Hyde Park in Leeds, as he arrives at Westminster Magistrates' Court (Photo by Jordan Pettitt/PA Wire)

Murray, of Plough Road, West Ewell, Surrey, Knorr, of Green Street, Oxford, and Bourne, of Moorland Road, Hyde Park, Leeds, were granted bail and will face trial at City of London Magistrates’ Court on September 28. Their bail condition is not to enter the grounds of a sporting event.

Also in court was JSO climate activist Rachel Mann, 64, who was banned from London for 12 months after pleading guilty to causing criminal damage to the Bank of England in a separate incident on Halloween last year.

Mann, who caused £6,890 worth of damage by spraying the words “Just Stop Oil” in orange paint on the building’s wall, was also made to pay £1,000 in compensation and a £114 legal fee.

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She told the court: “I didn’t do what I did lightly, I did it because I was desperate, and I’m still desperate now.”

Just Stop Oil protesters Jacob Bourne (centre), Judit Murray (right), and Daniel Knorr (not pictured) are charged with aggravated trespass after disrupting Ashes test (Photo by Jordan Pettitt/PA Wire)Just Stop Oil protesters Jacob Bourne (centre), Judit Murray (right), and Daniel Knorr (not pictured) are charged with aggravated trespass after disrupting Ashes test (Photo by Jordan Pettitt/PA Wire)
Just Stop Oil protesters Jacob Bourne (centre), Judit Murray (right), and Daniel Knorr (not pictured) are charged with aggravated trespass after disrupting Ashes test (Photo by Jordan Pettitt/PA Wire)

Austen Espeut, 75, of Chippenham in Wiltshire, denied causing £5,543.80 of criminal damage in relation to the same incident. He will stand trial at Inner London Crown Court on August 29. JSO is calling for an end to all new coal, oil and gas projects in the UK.