Just Stop Oil supporters William Ward, Deborah Wilde, and Simon Milner-Edwards appeared at City of London Magistrates Court on Monday 26 February for disrupting the Wimbledon tennis championships last year – and a judge preposterously found them guilty.
Just Stop Oil: guilty of making a mess with jigsaws
Judge Jonas found them guilty of the charges of Aggravated Trespass, handing down sentences of six months conditional discharge for Ward and Wilde, and 18 months conditional discharge for Milner-Edwards. Each received £396 court costs:
🚨 BREAKING: Wimbledon Jigsaw Throwers Guilty but Still Defiant
⚖️ Deborah, Simon and William have been sentenced with conditional discharges and court costs.
🧡 In court today, Deborah said: “I don’t understand how the law can allow those causing heinous acts of genocide by… pic.twitter.com/cgPwZxZk6d
— Just Stop Oil (@JustStop_Oil) February 26, 2024
The trio took action on 5 July last year, disrupting two matches by running onto the court and throwing confetti and puzzle pieces into the air.
“I’m not prepared to let our politicians wreck everything and leave the next generation to pick up the pieces”, quipped Simon Milner-Edwards, a 66-year old retired musician from Manchester, at the time.
The defendants made reference to the ‘Climate Genocide Act Now’ case in their defence, which “argues that it is entirely the fault of the criminal justice system that people are now undertaking climate protests”. Jon Fuller, ex-civil servant and noted campaigner was called as a witness. However, when he took to the witness box the Judge barred him from speaking.
‘Morally obligated’
One of the action-takers was William Ward, a 66 year-old retired civil engineer. He said:
Regardless of the outcome of the trial, I feel morally obligated to continue to do everything in my power, including lobbying prospective MPs in the up and coming national election.
I want to ensure the Government complies with the Climate Change Act 2008 and provide a livable future for my family and vulnerable people throughout the world – who are already suffering and dying due to the lack of action being taken by political leaders throughout the world.
Aside from the usual trolls, a lot of people were supportive of Just Stop Oil on X:
Thank you for taking the time to protest at Wimbledon. Throwing jigsaw pieces on the court certainly caused less physical harm than some players having tantrums have done! Some will never acknowledge the Climate Crisis until they boots are leaking whilst their hair is on fire!
— Nicky Johnson (@SizzlesMum) February 26, 2024
Deborah Wilde, 69, a retired teacher from London said in court:
I don’t understand how the law can allow those causing heinous acts of genocide by oblique intent to carry on while we peacefully stopped a tennis match for 4 minutes, causing no damage to the court, trying to raise the alarm about climate breakdown out of love for our grandchildren.
“Guilty of throwing a jigsaw…?”
User Olivia summed the situation up well on X:
Guilty of throwing a jigsaw puzzle? What? Honestly is that the best use of police and court resources? History will look back and find our denial of the grim future we face now pathetic and disgusting. Time to wake up people.
As the world passes tipping points that threaten the breakdown of ordered civilization, world leaders, captured by the interests of oil lobbyists and big business, are failing to protect our communities. British citizens are sick of being led by liars and crooks. Until we stop Tory oil, supporters of Just Stop Oil will continue taking proportionate action to demand necessary change. Sign up for action at juststopoil.org.
Featured image and additional video via Just Stop Oil
