Three activists acquitted of Stonehenge damage

THREE Just Stop Oil activists who took part in a protest in which Stonehenge was sprayed with orange powder have been found not guilty of criminal damage after citing human rights law in their defence.

- ROD MINCHIN

The scene at Stonehenge last summer and, left from top, Rajan Naidu and Niamh Lynch, who have been found not guilty of criminal damage

Rajan Naidu, 74, and Niamh Lynch, 23, had been accused of using two colour blasters filled with cornflour, talc and an orange dye to spray the ancient monument.

Salisbury Crown Court was told the pair together with a third activist, Luke Watson, 36 targeted Stonehenge as part of an ongoing fossil fuel protest by the Just Stop Oil group the day before last year’s summer solstice where around 15,000 people were due to gather and celebrate.

Naidu and Lynch, then an Oxford University student, crossed the boundary ropes and trespassed into the area around the monument before launching the attack.

Watson had bought the equipment used in the attack and had driven his co-accused to Stonehenge that morning.

Prosecutors alleged the protest had been “carefully planned” and was filmed by other Just Stop Oil supporters and released publicly afterwards.

Simon Jones, prosecuting, said: “Putting it simply, we say they were all in it together.

“The prosecution say that this is an act of blatant and clear vandalism. The intention is undoubtedly to make a statement.”

After the attack, Naidu and Lynch, who were both wearing white Just Stop Oil T-shirts, sat down in silence in front of the stones until they were arrested by the police.

The court heard the stones were promptly cleaned and the costs of removing the powder totalled £620.