Diss Extinction Rebellion activist in court following damage to political party's headquarters

A Diss Extinction Rebellion activist has appeared in court on causing damage to a political party's headquarters.

Nicola Stickells, 42, with Stefan Lindon, 59, Richard Barnard, 40 and Genevieve Scherer, who is in her 70s, have denied one charge of conspiracy to damage property at Wood Green Crown Court.

The incident at Labour Party headquarters in London, saw pink paint was thrown at the building, caused £8,712 worth of damage.

The eco-activists, who were part of a group called Burning Pink, delivered leaflets to climate charities which claimed billions of people could die as a result of global warming.

The actions of the group also saw one of Extinction Rebellion's founders, Roger Hallam, threw pink paint at the headquarters of green charities who he said needed to 'step up' their fight against climate change, the court heard.

The 56-year-old is said to have also attacked the headquarters of Greenpeace, Friends of the Earth, Amnesty International and Christian Aid alongside co-accused Holly Brentnall, 30, Ryan Simmons, 36 and Valerie Brown, 70, on 21 July 2020.

Brentnall and fellow eco-activist Nicholas Cooper, 40, are also accused of burglary by breaking into the Green Party headquarters on August 13, 2020.

The pair delivered a letter which accused the party of treason, sprayed pink paint around its offices and damaged a glass panel, jurors were told.

The court heard their actions cost the party £5,100 in damage.

Earlier the same day Dr Diana Warner, 63, Reverend Steven Nunn, 58 and Simmons caused £8,434 worth in damage to Conservative Central Office and £4,089 in damage to the Liberal Democrats headquarters.

Diana Wilson, prosecuting, told jurors the eco-activists had engaged in a “planned, organised and ongoing” campaign.

She told Wood Green Crown Court: “This case relates to three conspiracies to cause criminal damage to highlight the climate emergency.

“All were involved members of Burning Pink who conspired to commit criminal damage by throwing pink paint at these buildings.

“Two defendants went further by breaking into the Green Party.

“It is possible they went beyond what the agreement to commit criminal damage for a variety of reasons including social media.

“In the case Count Four (trade union buildings), no actual damage was caused because police intervened before the day of their action.

“For this conspiracy there is a recording of a Zoom call (during which) a number of them conspired to commit criminal damage to the trade union buildings.

“In the recorded Zoom call planning the trade union actions they make reference to doing something similar in the three prior incidents as well as further planning.”

Brentnall, from Lewisham in South East London, denies three charges of conspiracy to damage property and one charge of burglary.

Cooper, from Brixton in South London, denies one charge of conspiracy to damage property and one charge of burglary.

Hallam, from Camberwell in South London Simmons, from Hither Green in South London, Nunn, from Loughton upon Tern in Shropshire and Warner, from Filton near Bristol, deny two charges of conspiracy to damage property.

The trial continues.