Three members of Palestine Action have been spared prison sentences after ramming a van through the gates of a Wirral factory. Cheryl Leanaghan, Mais Robinson and Autumn Taylor-Ward were said to have targeted Teledyne CML Composites' facility due to its supply of parts for Israeli F-35 fighter jets.
The protest also saw red paint sprayed over the building and the activists unsuccessfully attempt to clamber onto the roof. But they now say they will "not involve themselves in this type of offending again", with a judge having warned them: "If you had achieved the amount of damage you intended to achieve, each of you would now be receiving a sentence of imprisonment, but you failed to do so."
Coordinated operation at Bromborough site
A trial at Liverpool Crown Court previously heard that Leanaghan, Robinson and Taylor-Ward were all part of a "coordinated operation under the banner of Palestine Action" at Teledyne's site on Tebay Road in Bromborough, where it manufactures advanced aerospace components, in the early hours of July 5 2024. This saw a van driven through a perimeter fence, causing "extensive damage and disruption".
While Jamie Baxter, prosecuting, described how only a "fraction of Teledyne's output" related to the manufacture of military products, the three defendants were alleged to have set out to "intimidate and disrupt the business", attending planning meetings and a "training day" in the weeks beforehand and communicating via an encrypted messaging app while being directed by an associate known only as "El Granma". A security guard was also "confronted and abused" during the incident, with damage being caused to his own vehicle.
Wearing matching red boilersuits as "uniforms", Robinson was behind the wheel as the van was driven through the gates, while Taylor-Ward and Leanaghan unsuccessfully attempted to climb onto the roof. With red paint being sprayed onto the building, the latter was also said to have wielded a sledgehammer before lighting a flare and shouting "free, free Palestine" as she was detained by police at around 5am.
Damage and sentencing
The episode caused a total of £5,200 damage to the site and led to production being halted for a period of time. All three denied criminal damage on the grounds that they had acted in a "form of political expression", but were found guilty by a jury and returned to the same court to be sentenced this afternoon, Thursday.
Robinson, of Amhurst Park in Hackney, North London, earlier admitted a further count of criminal damage in relation to the security guard's car. Alexander McColl said on behalf of the 32-year-old: "These proceedings have had a profound impact on Mais Robinson's mental wellbeing. It has been incredibly taxing. They have barely eaten and slept throughout."
Mais Robinson had a meltdown on the final day of the trial, linked to their autism. They hurt themselves as part of that meltdown. As a result of these proceedings, they have been unable to work, unable to participate in their PHD studies.
"These proceedings, resulting from Mais Robinson's actions, have had this impact. Because of that impact, the pre-sentence concludes that Mais Robinson would not consider taking part in action of this nature again. My submission is that a sentence that is reduced to reflect these actions and Mais Robinson's conscientious motivation bolsters the understanding that these types of political actions, which extend beyond the realms of criminal law, can have these consequences."
Mais Robinson has no previous convictions and is of positive good character. Mais Robinson is making positive and stable progress with PHD studies at Goldsmiths University, which would be severely impacted by any disruption as a result of a custodial sentence.
Taylor-Ward, of Colebrook Road in Aigburth, similarly has no previous convictions. Mira Hammad, representing the 22-year-old, added: "Autumn Taylor-Ward does not have any intention to become involved in this sort of action again, precisely because of the impact it has had not only on them but people around them, particularly their family.
"The recklessness of becoming involved in this action without thinking of the consequences beforehand has been brought home in terms of the stress it has caused, and they have caused a deep amount of distress to the people around them. In light of that, I think they now have a much greater appreciation of the consequences of their actions."
With the benefit of some maturity and two years, they understand much better the consequences of their actions. If your honour takes a lenient approach to sentence, Autumn Taylor-Ward certainly will not involve themselves in this type of offending again.
Leanaghan's barrister Iqra Shahid meanwhile detailed how the 42-year-old, of Falkner Square in Liverpool city centre's Georgian Quarter, had a "significant history with mental health issues", including being diagnosed with bipolar disorder and previous detentions under the Mental Health Act. She told the court: "In light of her history of poor mental health, she has welcomed a mental health treatment requirement.
"As she states, it is something that she has wanted for a number of years, and she feels it would support her quite significantly. The impact that these proceedings and the consequences of those actions on her mental health has been quite significant. She has no intention of committing criminal damage again in these circumstances."
Judge's remarks and orders
All three defendants were ultimately given 18-month community orders with a rehabilitation activity requirement of up to 10 days. Sentencing, Judge Stuart Driver KC, who presided over their trial, said: "This was a carefully planned offence involving not only the three of you but other, unidentified people, operating under the banner of Palestine Action.
"You achieved damaged valued at just over £5,000 and some consequential loss. There was a high degree of planning. For example, you agreed to participate after attending on meetings or training days. One of you travelled from London.
"You met with other people higher up the chain. A van was hired. Equipment and uniforms were provided. Mobile phones were provided. It was intended that your activity would be filmed, streamed and a photographer would attend.
"There is a serious aggravating feature here. I heard the evidence at trial. I find it to be proved to a criminal standard that you intended to cause serious damage to the property, much more than you achieved. I take that into account as an aggravating feature.
"At trial, you claimed that you intended to cause no more damage than to paint the building. I am sure that was false. The two of you who gave that evidence were lying. In addition to paint, you took a sledgehammer, a circular grinder, a crowbar, a number of mallets and a knife. I am sure that they were there because you intended to use them to cause damage to the roof and, if possible, to property under that roof in order to disrupt the business done there.
"I note that one of you took a sledgehammer out of the van, intending to take it up onto the roof. She wasn't going to paint with that. The failure of two of the defendants to operate a ladder caused your plan to be significantly altered, and you should be very glad that it did.
"There is significant mitigation in this case. I accept that each of you acted from conscientious motives, and I take that into account. Mais Robinson, you are of previous good character. I take into account a letter from your academic supervisors and other character references.
"You have a long history of poor mental, autism, bipolar disorder, and I have read a letter from your therapist. You are a low risk of reoffending.
"Autumn Taylor-Ward, you are of previous good character. You were only 20 years of age at the time. Your mental health also has been poor for some years, with a diagnosis of ADHD and a history of anxiety and depression. You are a low risk of reoffending.
"Cheryl Leanaghan, you also have a long history of poor mental. I pause at this stage to ask a rhetorical question which I cannot answer. Is it a coincidence that those who organised this recruited three people with a long history of mental health or not? Certainly, their consciouses seemed not to consider the impact of what they were asking you to do on your mental health.
"You also have a history of poor physical health. You are vulnerable because of your history of family and relationship problems. You are a low risk of reoffending. Although you are not of previous good character, you did not pass through the perimeter or handle the paint.
"Let me make it plain to each of you that, if you had achieved the amount of damage that you intended to achieve, each of you would now be receiving a sentence of imprisonment. But you failed to do so, and that means a proper application of the sentencing guidelines leads the court to the following sentences in each of your cases.
"In each of your cases, for a year-and-a-half, you must do as your probation officers tell you. If you fail, you will be brought back to this building. If I see you again, I have the power to imprison you."
Leanaghan, who wore a red dress in the dock, was handed a 12-month mental health treatment requirement as part of her community order, while Robinson, sporting a brown jumper and shoulder length brown hair, and a suited Taylor Ward both received 100 hours of unpaid work. They later left the Queen Elizabeth II Law Courts to applause and chants of "free Palestine" from their supporters.
