Two Just Stop Oil supporters who glued themselves to a Vincent Van Gogh painting have been found guilty of criminal damage.
Emily Brocklebank, 23, and Louis McKechnie, 22, caused just under £2,000 of criminal damage to the 1889 work Peach Trees In Blossom at the Courtauld Gallery in London on June 30, a court heard.
Westminster Magistrates’ Court heard on Tuesday that CCTV from the day showed the activists walking in the building around 3.30pm after purchasing tickets for an exhibition.
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They then took off their jackets to reveal orange Just Stop Oil T-shirts and attached themselves to the painting, the court was told.
Jonathan Bryan, prosecuting, said: “They waited until the coast was clear, when the gallery attendants looked away or were perhaps distracted by another member of the group.
“These actions did in fact cause criminal damage”.
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He said the painting, which is worth “millions” was unharmed, but its frame – which is worth around £20,000 and dates back to the 18th century – was damaged. He added: “The defendants say they were expressing their rights, under the European convention to freedom of expression and of assembly.
“They say the exercise of those rights gives them a lawful excuse. But these are qualified rights, not absolute rights.”
Ms Serres told the court it took three hours for the activists to be removed, with the incident lasting until after closing time. She said: “There were concerns over how much of the glue had seeped into the frame and the painting itself.”
The court heard there were also worries about the solvent used by police to remove the activists, as Ms Serres added: “There were large areas of glue left behind and areas of solvent which had seeped into the gilding of the frame. Parts of the frame had fallen off.”
Ms Serres said it took six hours for the painting to be removed from the frame and put back again.
Brocklebank, a student, told the court: “When it comes to protesting, just speaking does not get a platform. By gluing, it gives a story which the media chooses to follow.
“I didn’t think I would cause much damage. Glue comes off.”
The defendant said the painting’s owner would have “consented” to the protest. She said: “Any good human would agree with trying to sustain life on Earth.”
Giving evidence, McKechnie had argued: “I believe that a completely logical person who is not a psychopath who owns a painting of this value by Vincent Van Gogh would have respected the artist’s wishes.
“He said himself that the art of nature is not as valuable as nature itself.”
District Judge Neeta Minhas, giving her verdict at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday (November 22), said: “An 18th century frame which is hundreds of years old has been permanently damaged. It is not in a state where it can return to its original state.”
“The painting has significant, historical and art value and I consider the damage to be substantial. It is not minor, insignificant, temporary or trivial.”
Brocklebank, from Yeadon, Leeds, who appeared in person, and McKechnie, from Weymouth, Dorset, who appeared in custody from HMP Peterborough, had denied the charges.
McKechnie was jailed for three weeks.
Brocklebank received a 21-day sentence, suspended for six months. She was given an electronically monitored six-week curfew.
Xavier Gonzales-Trimmer, 21, originally faced the same charges after being accused of “distracting the guards” – but they were dropped.
However, he was fined for failing to appear at the court for a first hearing.
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