Four Palestine Action activists who smashed drones and other equipment at an Israeli arms manufacturer's UK factory will be sentenced as terrorists, a judge has ruled.
Court Ruling
Mr Justice Johnson made the ruling at a sentencing hearing on Friday for Samuel Corner, 23, Charlotte Head, 30, Leona Kamio, 30, and Fatema Rajwani, 21. They were all found guilty of criminal damage last month related to a 2024 break-in at the Elbit Systems UK site in Gloucestershire. Corner was also convicted of grievous bodily harm without intent for striking Sgt Kate Evans with a sledgehammer.
A prosecution report said the raid caused £1.2 million in damage, including to 41 military assets. The report noted £395,056 in damage to six units of an unnamed drone system and damage to other unmanned aerial vehicles.
Announcing the finding of a “terrorist connection” under section 69 of the Sentencing Act, Johnson said: “I am sure that each defendant’s offence of criminal damage involved serious damage to property, was designed to intimidate the UK government and a section of the public [Elbit employees and those of other businesses linked to Elbit] and was for the purpose of advancing a political or ideological cause.” He added that each defendant’s conscience would be considered in sentencing.
Legal Arguments
Rajiv Menon KC, representing Head, argued it was unprecedented for the prosecution to seek a terrorist sentence for a non-violent offence, calling it “an invitation to chilling, creeping authoritarianism that undermines the very fabric of our society.”
Mira Hammad KC, for Kamio, said the defendants were initially arrested on suspicion of terrorism but not charged with those offences, showing “a deliberate decision was taken not to submit the crown’s case to the arbitrament of a jury … the court should not allow the crown to use [section 69] as a vehicle for enhancing sentence.”
Tom Wainwright KC, for Corner, said a terrorist connection finding would also label suffragettes, Greenham Common women, and the Trident Ploughshares movement as terrorists. “It’s wrong for someone to be sentenced for a more serious offence of which they have not been convicted,” he added.
Impact on Sentencing
The “terrorist connection” means the four will face harsher sentences, serve a greater proportion of their sentence in prison, and must notify police for life about certain personal changes.
Reading her witness statement, a tearful Evans said Corner showed no remorse after striking her while she was on all fours. “The overall impact of this incident has been profound and long-lasting. It has affected my physical health, mental wellbeing, confidence, career, and family life. I am not the same person I was before this happened,” she told the court.
During the trial, Corner said he panicked after being pepper sprayed and acted to protect a co-defendant he believed was being seriously hurt.
Approximately 500 protesters gathered outside Woolwich crown court in south-east London, some holding placards reading “Saving lives is not terrorism. I support Palestine Action.” More than 70 people were arrested for allegedly supporting Palestine Action, which remains proscribed under the Terrorism Act pending the court of appeal’s judgment on Monday on the ban’s lawfulness.
