A Just Stop Oil protester accused of criminal damage after orange paint was sprayed on to the iconic Wellington Arch monument is facing a 16-month wait for his trial thanks to chronic court delays.
Joseph Hogan, 40, appeared in the dock at Southwark crown court on Thursday to deny the criminal charge over the stunt on October 25. Smoke flares were also set off alongside the Grade I-listed monument, which is nearly 200 years old, while it is alleged fire extinguishers were used to spray orange paint on to the façade. The incident happened during a wave of protests by Just Stop Oil around London, including pitch invasions at Wimbledon and Lords.
