Protesters’ beliefs cannot be used to justify criminal damage, court rules

Protesters accused of criminal damage cannot use a legal argument described as the “last line of defence” against prosecution by campaigners, the Court of Appeal has ruled.

Three judges ruled protesters cannot claim at trial that they honestly believed a property owner would have consented to damage caused if they were fully aware of its “circumstances”, such as the impact of climate change.

The judges said political beliefs are “too remote”