Samuel Johnson (left) and Patrick Hart (proper) appeared in court docket in the present day (Image: PA)
Two pitch invaders who disrupted the Gallagher Premiership ultimate to protest the usage of fossil fuels have appeared in court docket.
Samuel Johnson and Patrick Hart ran onto the pitch at Twickenham within the twenty fourth minute of the match between Saracens and the Sale Sharks.
The Simply Cease Oil protesters are accused of throwing orange cornflower onto the pitch, which remained on the sphere because the match resumed.
The Saracens went on to win the match 35-25 on Saturday, Could 27.
Johnson, 40, and Hart, 37, have been arrested and charged with legal injury and aggravated trespass.
They each appeared at Wimbledon magistrates court docket this morning the place they spoke solely to substantiate their identify, age and deal with.
A gradual strolling protest by different members of the group was held not removed from the court docket.
Vijay Khutan, prosecuting, mentioned Johnson and Hart’s intention was to hinder the rugby match.
The pair are accused of legal injury (Image: PA)
They invaded the pitch at Twickenham (Image: PA)
The primary price of the legal injury, which has but to be calculated, was to wash up the powder.
Relying on the fee, legal injury carries a most sentence of 10 years in jail.
Talking outdoors the court docket after the listening to, Hart mentioned: ‘At present we’re in a local weather disaster.
‘We’re taking a look at absolute hell on earth, which awaits us a lot earlier than individuals realise, if we don’t finish all new fossil gas tasks instantly.
‘We now have been demanding this for a 12 months now.
‘We now have been repeating our calls for very clearly and making it completely clear that we’re going to preserve disrupting sports activities occasions, and inflicting disruption, till our calls for are met.’
They have been joined outdoors the court docket by different Simply Cease Oil protesters (Image: PA)
Simply Cease Oil was additionally chargeable for a protest on the World Snooker Championship in April, the place a person poured orange paint over a desk throughout a match.
Justice of the Peace Helen Jones despatched the matter to be tried at a crown court docket.
Johnson, of Reydon in Suffolk, and Hart, of Brislington in Bristol, will seem at Kingston Crown Courtroom on June 26.
Get in contact with our information staff by emailing us at [email protected].
For extra tales like this, examine our information web page.